Ovules and seeds of Barbeya with additional arguments for an urticalean affinity of the Barbeyaceae

Barbeya oleoides has a bitegmic, crassinucellate and anatropous ovule. The inner and outer integuments are about five layers thick and not vascularized. The endosperm is initially nuclear, to become cellular later. The mature seed coat is unspecialized, remains parenchymatic and is locally compressed, except for the exotesta and the tanniniferous endotegmen. The exotesta is perforated by distinct crateriform holes. The embryological and anatomical seed coat characters support an urticalean affinity of the Barbeyaceae.