Morfología profunda del gineceo en Vigna (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae)

the deep morphology of gynoecium in species of vigna from argentina was studied using scanning electron microscopy (sem). at the beginning of anthesis, the ovary presents two types of trichomes; has a basal nectar disc; and the style beaked or not, can appear scarcely curved, sigmoid or curved up to five complete turns of spiraling; presents a distal stylar brush, and an apical wet stigma, which can be surrounded by trichomes. among the species examined, variation was found in: types of trichomes of ovary indumentum; nectar disc shape; length and curvature of the style; presence, shape and position of the stylar beak; location of the stylar brush; sculpturing of the stylar brush trichomes; position and form of the stigma; form and location of the peristigmatic ring and disposition and length of its trichomes. based on the variations in these characters, a comparative description of the gineceum of each species is provided. this is the first description of the sculptured trichomes in vigna. the results are discussed in relation to some aspects of the floral biology of the species.