title: Development and structure of trichotomous branching in Edgeworthia chrysantha (Thymelaeaceae).
abstract: We studied the development and structure of the unusual trichotomous branching of Edgeworthia chrysantha. Three "branch primordia" are formed sequentially on the shoot apex of a main axis and develop into trichotomous branching. The branch primordia are clearly distinguishable from the typical axillary buds of other angiosperms; they develop much more rapidly than axillary buds, and the borders between the branch primordia and shoot apex of the main axis are anatomically unclear. Furthermore, at a later stage, leaves subtending the branch primordia produce typical axillary buds. These results suggest that the trichotomous branching in this species involves the division of the shoot apical meristem. Expression analysis of genes involved in branching or maintenance of the shoot apical meristem in this species should clarify the control mechanism of this novel branching pattern in angiosperms. We also observed the phyllotactic patterns in trichotomous branching and have related these patterns to the shoot system as a whole.
authors.affiliation: The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan;
authors.forename: Akitoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Ryoko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Imaichi