Studies On Taxonomy Of The Genus Kadsura Jussieu

Based on the studies of specimens, taxonomic revision of the genus Kadsura Jussieu has been finished with special reference to seed morphology. Other information from phytomorphology, phytotomy, phytoembryology, phytocytotaxonomy, molecular systematics and phytochemistry etc. has also been considered during the revision.More than 1,100 specimens from 11 herbaria worldwide have been examined. After having studied the characteristics, phenology and ecological habit, we have gotten the morphological figures of each species. The characteristics of the disputed species have been studied in detail and have been quantitatively analyzed though scatter-map.Seed macromorphology and seed-coat micromorphology of 11 species of Kadsura (Schisandraceae) represented by 36 samples were observed under light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The seeds are reniform, ellipsoid, cordiform or reniform-oblate in shape. Under SEM the surface pattern of the seeds shows some variation among the species and three types have been observed, i.e. (1) Nearly Smooth, (2) Areolate and (3) Reticulate. In type 1, the seed surface is nearly smooth. Two species, K. borneensis and K. lanceolata, have this type. In type 2, the seed surface is areolate with prominent lumina and sunken muri. This type was found to occur in K. coccinea and K. verrucosa. In type 3, the seed surface is reticulate with sunken lumina and prominent muri. This type is the commonest in the genus, occurring in seven species, i.e. K. heteroclita, K. induta, K. japonica, K. oblongifolia, K. angustifolia, K. scandens and K. marmorata. Seed-coat micromorphological features seem to be quite constant within species and thus are of significant value in the delimitation of some species. Evidence from seed-coat micromorphological features supports the treatments of reducing K. polysperma and K. interior to K. heteroclita and of reducing K. longipedunculata to K. japonica. Brief speculation on the evolutionary trend of the seed-coat micromorphological features of the genus Kadsura is discussed.Cladistic principles and methods have been employed in this study. The morphological characters have been polarized for phylogenetic analysis. Cladograms have been gotten with the related genus Illicium as the outgroup. As a result, a new system of the genus Kadsura has been reconstructed.