The importance of floral micromorphology to the systematic understanding of the Senecioneae can not be denied. Previous investigators have discussed the relevance of floral micromorphological features in delimiting subtribal and generic boundaries within the Senecioneae. Others have refuted such relevance. Floral micromorphological features include the arrangement of stigmatic cells, the shape of style branches, the cellular configuration of anther collars, the distribution of endothecial cell wall thickenings, and the shape of corolla lobes. The purpose of this presentation is to present an illustrative overview of these features, especially as they are relevant to the taxonomy, evolution, and biogeography of several species and species groups of neotropical Senecioneae.

Key words: Angiosperms, Asteraceae, floral micromorphology, morphology, neotropics, Senecio, Senecioneae, systematics