Analele ştiinţifice ale Universităţii “Al. I. Cuza” Iaşi Tomul LV, fasc. 2, s.II a. Biologie vegetală, 2009 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF ANDRYALA LEVITOMENTOSA (E. I. NYÁRÁDY) P. D. SELL REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES ANATOMY B. MINEA * , B. M. NEGREA ** , IRINA GOSTIN * Abstract: The paper treats A. levitomentosa reproductive structures from an anatomical point of view. The species exhibited traits that are common in the Asteraceae family but also a few peculiarities such as a possibly five-carpel ovary, free non connate anthers and filaments fused to the corolla at different levels. Early stage embryos but no seeds were observed. Crystals have a presence limited to only certain areas: the integument, the ovary plateau, the anther walls and the connective. Key words: Andryala levitomentosa, anatomy, embryo, crystal Introduction Andryala levitomentosa is one of the rarest endemic species in Romania being strictly protected [10] which makes it difficult to harvest individuals for anatomical research. The recent discovery of three new locations where this plant grows [9] has made it possible for us to obtain some plant material to study. Being so rare this plant species is, anatomically speaking, one of the least studied in Romania. Literature about the anatomy of Andryala genus in general is very scarce [7] studied the taxonomic implications of trichomes in the Lactuceae tribe referring to A. levitomentosa too. Aiftimie-Păunescu and Vântu (2002) presented the stages of micropropagation of this species. Literature concerning the anatomy of the reproductive organs is scarcer still. Sáenz Laín and Gutiérrez Bustillo (1982) briefly describe the pollen grains of Andryala sp. as spheroidal, echinate and lophate. Regarding A. levitomentosa, only morphological descriptions have been done, in taxonomic studies [3, 11, 13]. This paper presents our research of the reproductive structures anatomy in A. levitomentosa. Another aim of this study is to add anatomical data to our knowledge of the species sexual reproduction which has been proving problematic since as early as it was discovered in the 1960's [13]. Mature seeds have never been recorded to germinate [9] hence the species has been reported to only reproduce vegetatively. Material and methods The plant material consisting of inflorescences in different stages of development and infructescences was collected in June – July 2008 from the Pietrosul Bistriţei mountain. For the anatomical analysis the paraffin embedding [5] and the scanning electron microscopy [2] methods were used. For paraffin embedding the material was fixed in the Bouin fixative and then, using the Leica TP1020 tissue processor and the Leica EG1150 modular tissue embedding center, dehydrated with growing ethanol series, passed through * Al. I. Cuza” University of Iaşi, Faculty of Biology, B-dul Carol I nr.11, 700506 – Iaşi, Romania bogdanminea83@yahoo.com , irinagostin@yahoo.com * * “Ştefan cel Mare” University, Faculty of Forestry, Str. Universităţii nr. 13, 720229 – Suceava, Romania bogdannm@yahoo.com 87