Morphology and anatomy of flowers of Dalechampia stipulacea Müll.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

the flowers of dalechampia species have been reported as a model for the study of floral evolution. however, the literature does not record floral anatomical studies of these plants. the structural analyses of inflorescences and flowers of dalechampia stipulacea was the objective of this paper. the pseudanthium consists of male and female inflorescences with two large bracts and monochlamydeous flowers. in the male inflorescence there is a resinous gland. in the bracts and flowers occurred nonglandular, glandular trichomes and glandular emergencies. the bracts and perianth without palisade parenchyma. the anther is tetrasporangiate with wall formed by epidermis, endothecium, middle layer and secretory tapetum. in the ovary wall meristematic regions were observed in the epidermis and mesophyll regions. the ovule is anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate. the style has central transmitting tissue with a reduced rift. the obtained anatomical results are compared with flowers of other species of the genus and discussed in relation to pollination ecology.