A Preliminary Note on the Placenta of Stellaria Media (L.) Vill. and Stellaria Graminea L. A Possible Axial Origin of Ovula?

The different types of gynoecia can be explained by those, who consider the carpel as an infolded foliage leaf, which develops ovula at the margins. This typo-morphological conception is supported by most botanists. This theory, also called the appendicular theory, goes back to A. P. de Candolle. In fact the appendicular theory leans on the vascular anatomy, a method, founded by Van Tieghem (1868; 1875) and employed with much success by Eames and his school, for the interpretation of the flower. In this theory, the central placenta is a much discussed subject, which caused a good deal of research. In many cases the central placenta of the Primulaceae has been the motive. All this work centered upon the question whether the central placenta is wholly or partly formed by carpellary tissue. In a well documented article Puri (1951) states, that “the central region of the column is axial, while its peripheral region which bears the ovules is carpellary”.