Endocarp Morphology of <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand and Its Taxonomic Significance

Fruits and endocarps of 21 species within the genus <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand were examined using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate taxonomic relevance. Overall, mature fruits were classified into two types: fully developed mericarp (fruit type I)...

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Main Authors: Jiratthi Satthaphorn, Alan J. Paton, Pornsawan Sutthinon, Charan Leeratiwong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1706
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author Jiratthi Satthaphorn
Alan J. Paton
Pornsawan Sutthinon
Charan Leeratiwong
author_facet Jiratthi Satthaphorn
Alan J. Paton
Pornsawan Sutthinon
Charan Leeratiwong
author_sort Jiratthi Satthaphorn
collection DOAJ
description Fruits and endocarps of 21 species within the genus <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand were examined using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate taxonomic relevance. Overall, mature fruits were classified into two types: fully developed mericarp (fruit type I) and partly developed mericarp (fruit type II), with three shape patterns: broadly obovoid, narrowly obovoid, and clavoid. Fruit size ranged from 1.52 to 7.48 mm in length and 0.98 to 7.71 mm in width. In LM investigations, the endocarps were classified into three types based on the presence and shape of the protruding structure: saccate-like (protrusion type I), thorn-like (protrusion type II), and no protrusion (protrusion type III). The examination of endocarps under SEM showed that they consist of multilayers of sclerenchyma cells. The shape of the sculpturing cells on the endocarp surface can be divided into two patterns: irregular tetragonal and polygonal, with distinct or obscure straight cell faces. The morphological comparison and phenetic analyses using factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) show that fruit and endocarp characteristics of <i>Premna</i> hold significant taxonomic value for distinguishing certain related species and classifying within the genus in Thailand. From the first two FAMD dimensions, fruit shape, shape of sculptured cells on the endocarp, and protrusion type of the endocarp are considered as the most significant contributing variables. The findings also support the reinstatement of species previously synonymized with <i>P. serratifolia</i>, namely <i>P. cordifolia</i>, <i>P. paniculata</i>, and <i>P. punctulata</i>.
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spelling doaj-art-06bc235925154fa389f076ad0923dacc2025-08-20T02:23:07ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011411170610.3390/plants14111706Endocarp Morphology of <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand and Its Taxonomic SignificanceJiratthi Satthaphorn0Alan J. Paton1Pornsawan Sutthinon2Charan Leeratiwong3School of Science, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, ThailandScience Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE, UKDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandDivision of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, ThailandFruits and endocarps of 21 species within the genus <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand were examined using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate taxonomic relevance. Overall, mature fruits were classified into two types: fully developed mericarp (fruit type I) and partly developed mericarp (fruit type II), with three shape patterns: broadly obovoid, narrowly obovoid, and clavoid. Fruit size ranged from 1.52 to 7.48 mm in length and 0.98 to 7.71 mm in width. In LM investigations, the endocarps were classified into three types based on the presence and shape of the protruding structure: saccate-like (protrusion type I), thorn-like (protrusion type II), and no protrusion (protrusion type III). The examination of endocarps under SEM showed that they consist of multilayers of sclerenchyma cells. The shape of the sculpturing cells on the endocarp surface can be divided into two patterns: irregular tetragonal and polygonal, with distinct or obscure straight cell faces. The morphological comparison and phenetic analyses using factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) show that fruit and endocarp characteristics of <i>Premna</i> hold significant taxonomic value for distinguishing certain related species and classifying within the genus in Thailand. From the first two FAMD dimensions, fruit shape, shape of sculptured cells on the endocarp, and protrusion type of the endocarp are considered as the most significant contributing variables. The findings also support the reinstatement of species previously synonymized with <i>P. serratifolia</i>, namely <i>P. cordifolia</i>, <i>P. paniculata</i>, and <i>P. punctulata</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1706drupemicromorphologypericarpPremnoideaesculpturingtaxonomy
spellingShingle Jiratthi Satthaphorn
Alan J. Paton
Pornsawan Sutthinon
Charan Leeratiwong
Endocarp Morphology of <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand and Its Taxonomic Significance
Plants
drupe
micromorphology
pericarp
Premnoideae
sculpturing
taxonomy
title Endocarp Morphology of <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand and Its Taxonomic Significance
title_full Endocarp Morphology of <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand and Its Taxonomic Significance
title_fullStr Endocarp Morphology of <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand and Its Taxonomic Significance
title_full_unstemmed Endocarp Morphology of <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand and Its Taxonomic Significance
title_short Endocarp Morphology of <i>Premna</i> (Lamiaceae) in Thailand and Its Taxonomic Significance
title_sort endocarp morphology of i premna i lamiaceae in thailand and its taxonomic significance
topic drupe
micromorphology
pericarp
Premnoideae
sculpturing
taxonomy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1706
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