Stomata in Rotala (Lythraceae)

 

Foliar epidermal features and their taxonomic significance in Rotala L. (Lythraceae)

by Kshirsagar A. A., Vaikos N. P. (2013)

Anil A. Kshirsagar1 and N. P. Vaikos2

1 UG & PG Department of Botany, Shivaji Arts, Comm. & Science College, Kannad, Aurangabad (MS)

2 Department of Botany, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad (MS), Presently at Sonchafa, Mahavir Nagar, Osmanpura, Aurangabad

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in Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research 3(3): 117-120 –

http://www.imedpub.com/articles/foliar-epidermal-features-and-their-taxonomic-significancein-rotala-l-lythraceae.pdf

ABSTRACT

The present study deals with the epidermal diversity in nine species of Rotala L. belonging to the family Lythraceae.

The leaves are small, variable in shape, size and amphistomatic. The upper epidermal cells are generally larger than the lower epidermal cells; the anticlinal cell walls are wavy or sinuous.

The stomata are anisocytic and anomocytic. A peculiar wall thickening at polar end of the stomata is noted in Rotala serpyllifolia. The 2-celled glandular trichomes occur in R. malampuzhensis and the scales in R. floribunda.

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The number of stomata is more on the lower surface whereas few stomata occur on the upper surface. A peculiar wall thickening at polar end of guard cells is observed in the leaves of Rotala serpyllifolia [Figs. QR]. The stomata are anomocytic in Rotala densiflora, R. floribunda, R. indica, R. occultiflora, R. serpyllifolia [Figs. AB, EF, GH, KL, QR] whereas anisocytic in R. fimbriata, R. malampuzhensis, R. rotundifolia, and R. rosea [Figs. CD, IJ, MN, OP].Trichomes are 2-celled and glandular in the leaves of R. malampuzhensis [Fig. S ] and in the form of scales in R. floribunda. [Fig. S].

The maximum number of stomatal index occurs in abaxial surface of leaf as in Rotala serpyllifolia, while minimum in R.occultiflora , whereas in adaxial surface the maximum number of stomatal index is noted in R.serpyllifolia and the minimum in R. floribunda [Table: 1]. The stomatal index of other plants are given in Table No. 1. The maximum number of stomatal frequency occurs in abaxial surface [lower epidermis] of leaf as in Rotala occultiflora.[38.1/mm2 ] while minimum number in Rotala fimbriata [23.6/mm2 ] whereas in adaxial surface [upper epidermis] the maximum number of stomatal frequency is noted in R.floribunda[27.7/mm2 ] and the minimum in R.rosea [19.4/ mm2 ] [Table: 2]. The stomatal frequency of other plants are given in Table No.2.