The gynoecium of Myrsine laetevirens (Mez) Arechav. consists of a five-lobed stigma, a short style and a unilocular ovary with a conspicuous free central placenta. Three to four ovules are originated from the placenta. The ovules are hemianatropous, unitegmic and tenuinucellate. The archesporial cell acts as the megaspore mother cell and divides into a linear or T-shaped tetrad. The embryo sac development corresponds to the Polygonum type. At anthesis, the placenta occupies the locule almost entirely and partially surrounds the ovules. The placental epidermal cells secrete a mucilaginous protein polysaccharide substance in which populations of Gram-negative bacteria have been detected. During anthesis, the placenta forms grooves and canals which increase the secreting area. Bacteria were also observed in the mucilage found in the micropyle.

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Acta botanica neerlandica

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Koninklijke Nederlandse Botanische Vereniging

M. Otegui, & S. Maldonado. (1998). Embryological features and bacterial transmission to gynoecium and ovule in Myrsine laetevirens (Myrsinaceae). Acta botanica neerlandica, 47(2), 185–194.