<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Although both subspecies of <italic>Pteridium aquilinum </italic>(subsp. <italic>aquilinum </italic>and subsp. <italic>pinetorum</italic>) are widespread in Poland, our knowledge about the occurrence and significance of extrafloral nectaries on frond stipes (petioles) is very limited. Their location on the abaxial stipe surface in pairs at subsequent pinna-bases is often overlooked. The study concerns the morphological/ anatomical structure, distribution, and function of the bracken nectaries. Observations of sugar secretions of the nectaries and their local associations with ants indicated a dependence on frond age, seasonality, and environmental factors. The nectaries consist of a single layer of the epidermis with stomata, secretory parenchyma, and ground parenchyma cells lying above the vascular bundles, with a hypodermal sterome composed of fibres. The anatomy of the two examined subspecies revealed a close similarity, despite the morphological differences in size, shape, colour, and secretory activity. This paper provides also a review of published data on the nectaries in <italic>P. aquilinum </italic>and other fern species.</p>
</abstract>

Although both subspecies of Pteridium aquilinum (subsp. aquilinum and subsp. pinetorum) are widespread in Poland, our knowledge about the occurrence and significance of extrafloral nectaries on frond stipes (petioles) is very limited. Their location on the abaxial stipe surface in pairs at subsequent pinna-bases is often overlooked. The study concerns the morphological/ anatomical structure, distribution, and function of the bracken nectaries. Observations of sugar secretions of the nectaries and their local associations with ants indicated a dependence on frond age, seasonality, and environmental factors. The nectaries consist of a single layer of the epidermis with stomata, secretory parenchyma, and ground parenchyma cells lying above the vascular bundles, with a hypodermal sterome composed of fibres. The anatomy of the two examined subspecies revealed a close similarity, despite the morphological differences in size, shape, colour, and secretory activity. This paper provides also a review of published data on the nectaries in P. aquilinum and other fern species.

Characteristics of frond stipe nectaries in two subspecies of <italic>Pteridium aquilinum </italic>(L.) Kuhn in Poland

Department of General Botany, Faculty of Biology

Biodiversity Research and Conservation

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Characteristics of frond stipe nectaries in two subspecies of (L.) Kuhn in Poland

Although both subspecies of Pteridium aquilinum (subsp. aquilinum and subsp. pinetorum) are widespread in Poland, our knowledge about the occurrence and...

Characteristics of frond stipe nectaries in two subspecies of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn in Poland

Published Online: Apr 02, 2024

Page range: 55 - 62

Received: Feb 01, 2023

Accepted: Mar 31, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/biorc.2023.69.3

Keywords
subspecies, extrafloral nectaries, EFN, subsp., pinna/pinnule-base location, nectar secretion, visitation by ants, Poland

© 2023 Elżbieta Zenkteler et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Characteristics of frond stipe nectaries in two subspecies of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn in Poland

Published Online: Apr 02, 2024

Page range: 55 - 62

Received: Feb 01, 2023

Accepted: Mar 31, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/biorc.2023.69.3

Keywordssubspecies, extrafloral nectaries, EFN, subsp., pinna/pinnule-base location, nectar secretion, visitation by ants, Poland

© 2023 Elżbieta Zenkteler et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
subspecies, extrafloral nectaries, EFN, subsp., pinna/pinnule-base location, nectar secretion, visitation by ants, Poland