1. Fleshy cover |
Fleshy structure (e.g., pulp), or cup-like structure
(e.g., aril) that totally or partly covers the seeds. |
2. Fleshy appendage |
Fleshy appendage or structure (e.g., elaiosome)
attached to seed. It can vary in form, size, and position between
species. |
3. Dry covering structure |
Dry covering structures that partially or
completely cover the germination unit. Presence was only recorded for
species/genera in which diaspores can be found both with and without
these structures (e.g., glumes of Poaceae, utricle of Carex, bracteoles
of Atriplex). |
4. flat appendage |
Membranous / delicate structures that stick out of
the more compact part of the germination unit with a flat, thin
form. |
5. hairy appendage |
A tuft, hairlike branches, or ring of hairs (and
less often scales) which are attached to the germination unit and can be
removed from it. |
Elongated appendages |
Structures that prominently stick out of the main
part of the diaspore, having a length considerably greater than width,
and height. These were classified into short or long and according to
specialisations. (This category excludes hairs and hooks, which have
their own categories). |
6.1 Elongated short |
Elongated appendage is at least one tenth of the
length and shorter than half of the diaspore’s length. Therefore,
surface structures such as papillae, glands, tubercles, beaks, and short
projections are not considered to be elongated
appendages. |
6.2 Elongated long |
Elongated appendage is at least half of the length
of the diaspore. |
6.3 Elongated spiral coiled |
Spiral coiled elongated
appendage. |
6.4 Elongated bent |
Elongated appendage is bent or distinctively
crooked. |
6.5 Elongated hairy |
Elongated appendage has fine, flexible, linear
outgrowths. Different from hairy appendage as the hairs, as these are
covering the surface of the appendage and cannot be easily detached from
it. |
6.6 Elongated bristles |
Elongated appendage has linear outgrowths that
are semiflexible, thicker and generally shorter than
hairs. |
6.7 Elongated multiple |
Two or more elongated appendages are
present. |
7.1 single hook |
One elongated appendage with very recurved beak in a
hook-like shape. |
7.2 multiple hooks |
Bristles or spines with curved or backwards
pointing tips, or with secondary bristles along their
length. |
8.1 surface hairs |
Fine, flexible, linear outgrowths on the
surface. |
8.2 surface bristles |
Linear outgrowths on the surface that are
semiflexible, thicker and generally shorter than hairs. |