Trapa Natans: Nature And Phytochemistry Of The "Submerged Leaves".

ABSTRACT

As the morphology of submerged leaves is variously interpreted, they are subjected to a detailed morphological, anatomical and phytochemical studies. The position of origin at the leaf base, pinnate tristichous nature of leaflets and the limited life span prove the submerged leaves to be leafy in nature. The absence of root cap and exarch protoxylem which are the typical characters of roots goes against the root-concept. The morphological similarities of young submerged floating leaves to the other submerged leaves, ultrastructural studies like cuticular combs and pore like structures as in floating leaves, phytochemical observations and molecular biological data indicate the submerged structures to be true leaves. The role of environmental factors in shaping the characters is suggested.