Studies in the Tubiflorae of Nagpur III. a Carpological Study

The paper presents results of a carpological study of the Tubiflorae of Nagpur based on author's personal acquaintance with more than 150 local species belonging to fourteen out of fifteen Indian plant families of the order. The "syncarpellous, epichlamydous" fruit has a persistent calyx that often exhibits a diagnostic form. Drupe, berry, capsule and schizocarp are the four principal types. Nine families may be broadly classed as "monocarpi" and the remaining five as "bicarpic". Distribution of these fruit types in the order offers no clue to their relative antiquity. While a broad correlation may be seen between fruit type and habit, exceptions are not wanting. Taxonomic value of fruit characters and inadequacies in the existing system of classification of fruits have been discussed. While existence throughout the order of a fundamentally uniform fruit-type adds weight to the view that "the Tubiflorae form a natural group", the several variations of this type indicate lines of specialisation within this large taxon.