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Botanical Research on the Plant Collections
Research on Ecology and Environmental Concerns
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Botanical Research on the Plant Collections
Araceae and Begoniaceae : Treasures for the Botanical Garden's collections, but presenting many botanical challenges.
Araceae (110 genera, 2,500 species) and Begoniaceae (3 genera, 1,000 species) are two families of tropical plants with very interesting botanical and horticultural characteristics. Two exhibition greenhouses at the Montréal Botanical Garden are devoted to these plant families, with their exceptional flowers. For many years now, we have been conducting a research program focusing primarily on the evolution of the vegetative and flower characteristics in these families.
The specific inflorescence of Araceae raises a number of questions relating to their evolution. What is the structure of the different types of flowers among Araceae? Is it possible to trace the evolution of unisexual and bisexual flowers in this family? Is there a correlation between the evolution of the reproductive organ and that of the vegetative organ? To answer these questions we have been studying the evolution of the floral organs, the structure of the vegetative organ and the classification of the different genera.
The asymmetric shape of begonia leaves makes them ideally suited to morphological, taxonomic and evolutionary studies of flowering plants. Accordingly, we have studied the development of the leaf in relation to the overall structure and the arrangement of flowers on the plant. Other studies look at the anatomy and morphology of the flower. For instance, analyses of flower characteristics lend credence to the idea that female flowers of certain begonia species take on the appearance of male flowers to attract insects.
The specimens used for this research are drawn from the Garden's collections and field expeditions. As a result, many rare specimens of aroids and begonias are now part of the Botanical Garden's collection and can be admired in its exhibition greenhouses.
Project head
Denis Barabé
4101, rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, QC, Canada, H1X 2B2
Tel.: 514-872-1436; Fax: 514-872-3765
E-mail: barabed@irbv.umontreal.ca
Scientific partners
Luc Brouillet, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal.
Bernard Jeune, Laboratoire d'Ecologie, URA 258, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France.
Christian Lacroix, Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Roger V. Jean, Université du Québec à Rimouski.
Financial partners
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Fonds pour la formation des chercheurs et l'aide à la recherche,
Québec
Selected publications:
Boubes, C. et D. Barabé. 1997. Flower and inflorescence development
in Montrichardia arborescens (L .) Schott (Araceae). Int. J. Plant
Sc.
Thibeault, G., D. Barabé et L. Brouillet. 1997. Apparition de l'asymétrie foliaire chez les plantules du Begonia subvillosa et du B. fagifolia (Begoniaceae) Can. J. Bot. 75: 1079-1094.
Barabé, D. et C. Bertrand. 1996. Organogénie florale des genres Culcasia et Cercestis (Araceae). Can J. Bot. 74:898-908.
Boubes, C. et D. Barabé. 1996. Développement de l'inflorescence et des fleurs du Philodendron acutatum (Araceae). Can. J. Bot. 74:909-918.
Barabé, D. et R.V. Jean. 1996. The constraints of global form on phyllotactic organization: the case of Symplocarpus (Araceae). J. Theor. Biol. 178: 393-397.
Jeune, B. et D. Barabé. 1995. Allometry and geometry of the leaf of Begonia. Acta Biotheoretica 43: 205-215.
Germinating temperate-zone orchids : No easy task!
Because orchid growing is very popular with both professional and amateur ornamental horticulturists, orchid admirers are increasingly interested in temperate-zone species. But unlike many tropical species, it is not easy to grow species from temperate zones, whether it is a question of transplanting specimens or propagating them from seed. The demand for temperate-zone orchids is putting enormous pressure on many native orchid species. To obtain plants quickly for use in horticulture, we consider it important to develop effective means of propagating temperate-zone orchids from seed.
The research program on germinating native orchids has two main objectives : to understand their germination mechanisms and develop propagation methods from seed. The studies on germination are mainly concerned with determining how various chemical or physical treatments affect germination rates and the morphogenesis of pink lady's-slipper (Cypripedium acaule) plantlets. The development of propagation methods from the seed of different species of native orchids in the presence of a symbiotic fungus is now under study.
Project head
Marc St-Arnaud and Denis Barabé
4101, rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, QC, Canada, H1X 2B2
Tel.: 514-872-1436; Fax : 514-872-3765
E-mail: barabed@irbv.umontreal.ca
Tel.: 514-872-1439; Fax : 514-872-3765
E-mail: marc.starnaud@umontreal.ca
Scientific partners
Sylvie Laliberté, Département de sciences biologiques Université
du Québec à Montréal
Denis Lauzer, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université
de Montréal
Louise Savard, Biosynergies Inc.
Financial partners
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
pour la formation des chercheurs et l'aide à la recherche, Québec
Biosynergies Inc.
Selected publications:
Leroux, G., D. Barabé et J. Vieth. 1997. Morphogenesis of the
protocorm of Cypripedium acaule Aiton (Orchidaceae). Pl. Syst.
Evol. 205: 53-72.
Leroux, G., D. Barabé et J. Vieth. 1995. Morphogenèse comparée de protocormes du Cypripedium acaule (Orchidaceae) cultivés in vitro avec ou sans sucre. Can. J. Bot. 73: 1391-1406.
Lauzer, D., M. St-Arnaud et D. Barabé. 1994. In vitro germination and tetrazolium staining of mature seeds of Cypripedium acaule Aiton (Orchidaceae). Lindleyana, 9: 197-204.
Barabé, D., M. St-Arnaud et D. Lauzer. 1993. Sur la nature des protocormes d'Orchidées. C.R. Acad. Sc. Paris, Série III, 316: 139-144.
St-Arnaud, M., D. Lauzer et D. Barabé. 1992. In vitro germination and early growth of seedlings of Cypripedium acaule (Orchidaceae). Lindleyana, 7: 22-27.
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