Taxonomic significance of seeds and seedling morphology in the threatened Indian endemic palm genus Bentinckia (Arecaceae)

A comparative morphological study was carried out to evaluate the taxonomic significance of seed and seedling traits of Bentinckia condapanna and B. nicobarica (Arecaceae), the threatened endemic palm species. Both species are unique and have specific requirements for seedling recruitment. An effort was made to cultivate these species ex situ at the Botanical Survey of India’s National Orchidarium and Experimental Garden (NOEG) in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, and Dhanikhari Experimental Garden cum Arboretum (DEGCA), in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The seeds and seedlings of the two species differ in the beak and ridges on the seed, endosperm colour and the shape of the eophyll.