Learn about the comparison among Musaceae, Zingiberaceae and Cannaceae.

Comparison # Musacase:

1. Flower-May be unisexual, bisexual or zygomorphic.

2. Perianth-6, 5 in two whorls or not distinct, petaloid, 6, in two whorls of 3 each, usually the outer green and inner coloured.

3. Androecium-6, 5, only fertile, the sixth, sterile one not distinguishable as a petaloid staminode.

4. Gynoecium-(3): ovary trillocular, ∞ ovules, placentation axile.

Style-Simple.

Sigma-Lobed or capitate.

5. Fruit-Berry or espsule.

6. Seed-With mealy endosperm. No aril.

Comparison # Zingiberaceae:

1. Flower-Bisexual, zygomorphic.

2. Perianth-6, in two whorls of 3 each, outer sepaloid and inner petaloid.

3. Androecium-6, in two whorls of three each, one (posterior stamen of the inner whorl) fertile and functional; 1 (anterior stamen of the outer whorl) suppressed; the remaining 4 are modified into petaloid staminodes, the two staminodes of the inner whorl, however, fuse to form labellum.

4. Gynoecium- (3); ovary 1-3-locular, placentation axile or parietal.

Narrow and slender, lies in groove of the fertile stamen.

Variable.

5. Fruit-Capsule

6. Seed-Arillate, endospermic

Comparison # Cannaceae:

1. Flower-Bisexual, asymmetrical.

2. Perianth-6 in two whorls of 3 each, outer sepaloid and inner petaloid.

3. Androecium-6, ½ posterior anther of the inner whorl fertile, other 1/2 is petaloid, 1 suppressed (anterior of outer whorl), other 4 (2 anterior +2 posterior) modified into petaloid staminodes of which one in the inner whorl is the largest and is modified into labellum.

4. Gynoecium- (3); ovary 3-celled, placentation axile.

Petaloid, gaudy.

Terminal, somewhat oblique.

5. Fruit-Capsule

6. Seed-Arillate, endosperm scanty.

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