Floral organ initiation illustrating patterns of petal aestivation (the arrangement of petals in the flower bud) in Fabaceae, as viewed in scanning electron micrographs of representative species from each subfamily. Abaxial side (away from stem) of flower bud is at bottom of figures. Image 1 (from Fig. 4; Tucker 2003), Neptunia pubescens (Mimosoideae) with 'valvate' corolla aestivation of petals: A and a, outer and inner whorl of stamens, P, petals, C, carpel. Scale bar = 50 μm. Image 2 (from Fig. 2; Tucker 2003), Cercis canadensis (Caesalpinioideae) with ascending 'imbricate' (or 'cochleate') aestivation: V, vexillum or banner petal, W, wing petals, K, keel petals, s, sepal. Scale bar = 100 μm. Image 3 (from Fig. 5; Tucker 2003), Genista tinctoria (Papilionoideae), with sepals removed to show descending 'imbricate' aestivation: V, vexillum or banner petal, W, wing petals, K, keel petals, A, outer whorl stamen, C, carpel. Scale bar = 200 μm. © 2003 Shirley C. Tucker. For more information on floral development in legumes, see references below.
Simplified diagram of patterns of petal aestivation shown in figures described above. Key: P, petal; V, vexillum; W, wing; K, keel. After Tucker (2002)
