pappusremain

Pappusremain is a term used in seed morphology to denote residual pappus material attached to a seed after the main pappus detaches during dispersal. The concept appears in a small subset of seed-morphology literature as a way to describe trailing remnants that persist on the seed coat.

Etymology and scope

The word combines pappus, the tuft of bristles or scales that facilitates wind dispersal in many dicot seeds, with remain, indicating a remnant. It is not a widely standardized term across botanical floras and is primarily encountered in specialized studies of seed surface structure.

Morphology and identification

A pappusremain can take several forms, including a small cap-like remnant, a partial ring, or a few filamentous fibers at the apical region of the seed. Its recognition generally requires microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy is often used to characterize the attachment pattern and fine structure of the remnant.

Taxonomic occurrence

Reports of pappusremain are limited to a subset of taxa where pappus detachment is common, notably within some genera of the Asteraceae. It is not known to be universal within any family and has not become a standard diagnostic character across broad taxonomic groups.

Function and significance

The functional significance of a pappusremain is unclear; it may be a byproduct of the detachment process or contribute modestly to seed handling, adhesion, or microhabitat interactions. In taxonomy, it has potential as a supplementary character in specific genera but requires further study to establish consistency and utility.

See also

Pappus, seed dispersal, diaspore, seed coat.