Research Training Program

Patti Vitt
University of Maine
Orono, ME

Robert Faden, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Botany

"Everyone I worked with was great. They directed my work with complete competence and foresight."

Reproductive Biology of Commelinaceae

Working with Stan, Royce, Brian, and Janice Bittner, two genera in the Commelinaceae were examined. Anatomical details, pollen morphology (SEM), cytology as well as floral biology and comparative morphology were techniques used to determine the status of the genera Belosynapsis and Cyanotis. Results were inconclusive and, because of inexperience, it was difficult to weigh the data characters well enough to sustain a final determination.