Seed Morphology and Its Taxonomic Significance in Corydalis DC.(Papaveraceae) from Hubei Province,China

The seed morphological characteristics of 17 Corydalis DC.taxa(Papaveraceae) from Hubei Province of China were examined by light microscopy and their taxonomic significance was evaluated.Seeds examined were suborbicular,oblate,or reniform,0.87-2.12 mm long,0.99-2.06 mm wide,black or dark brown,with elaiosome.Elaiosome large or small,galericulate,flabellate,clavate,and irregular,folded back over seed or not.Based on the features of the seed surface,four types of seeds were identified:(i) smooth(C.temulifolia Franch.,C.acuminata Franch.,C.hemsleyana Franch.ex Prain,C.fargesii Franch.,C.shennongensis H.Chuang,and C.caudata(Lam.)Pers.);(ii) spinulose or with small tubercles(C.wilfordii Regel,C.racemosa(Thunb.)Pers.,C.sheareri S.Moore,and C.sheareri S.Moore f.bulbillifera Hand.-Mazz.);(iii) finely reticulate with small pitted or linear depressions(C.incisa(Thunb.) Pers.,C.edulis Maxim.,C.cheilanthifolia Hemsl.,C.ophiocarpa Hook.f.et Thoms.,C.balansae Prain,and C.yanhusuo(Y.H.Chou et C.C.Hsu) W.T.Wang ex Z.Y.Su et C.Y.Wu);and(iv) with pitted depressions and covered with small tubercles(C.decumbens(Thunb.) Pers.).These results provide diagnosing data for the taxonomy of Corydalis at specific levels.Seed morphological features of several newly recorded taxa from Hubei Province are reported and their possible implication for determination is discussed.