Comparative vegetative anatomy of three Elaeocarpus species from the Western Ghats, Southern India.

The vegetative anatomy of Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus Roxb., and Elaeocarpus variabilis Zmarzty were investigated to illustrate anatomical variations. Plant materials were free-hand sectioned using a razor blade and stained with different staining solutions. The maceration technique was used to assess stomatal characteristics. Elaeocarpus leaves have abaxial epidermis with paracytic stomata and curved anticlinal walls in E. angustifolius, straight walls in other two species. Trichomes were absent in E. angustifolius.hav Mesophyll dorsiventral, midvein cortex contains starch grains, and vascular tissues enclosed by thick-walled sclerenchymatous cells. The petioles of all the three species possess unicellular epidermal hairs, collenchymatous hypodermis, and cortex containing druses and crystals, and vascular tissue enclosed by sclerenchymatous fibers. Water-storage cells are absent in petioles of E. angustifolius. Anatomical features of Elaeocarpus stem include epidermal hairs, epidermis covered by thin cuticle, the collenchymatous hypodermis and vascular integrity with entire cylinder enclosed by sclerenchymatous fibers. Pith contains water-storage cells. Starch grains absent in the pith cells of E. tuberculatus. The roots of Elaeocarpus possess unicellular root hairs, cortex 12-14 layered in E. tuberculatus and E. variabilis and 10-12 layerd E. angustifolius, Endodermis O-thickened and pericycle single-layered in all the examined Elaeocarpus species. Vascular bundles are arranged radially. Lignin deposition occurred in stellar region of roots. Water-storage cells present in the stelar regions of E. variabilis. The study revealed significant anatomical differences between the three Elaeocarpus species and most of these anatomical features may be used as markers for the identification of these species. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Comparative anatomy of three south Indian Elaeocarpus was studied. Leaf mesophyll layers varied in all the Elaeocarpus species. Crystals was present in petiole of all examined Elaeocarpus species. Starch grains was absent in stems of E. tubercuatus, but present in E. variabilis. Water-storage cells observed in stellar region of E. variabilis.

Vegetative anatomy and endorrhizal fungal morphology of an endangered medicinal plant Gloriosa superba L.

Gloriosa superba L. is of great economic importance due to its high medicinal value. Nevertheless, there is a need to reexamine species delimitation in the Gloriosa taxa as most of the species have been synonymised as G. superba. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the vegetative anatomical traits of G. superba. The leaf, scale leaf, tendril, stem, tuber, and roots of G. superba were freehand sectioned and stained with various staining solutions to record the anatomical structures. The cellular dimensions of each plant part were measured. The present study revealed the presence of intercostal and costal regions in the leaf epidermis, anomocytic stomata on abaxial surface, uniseriate epidermis covered by cuticle, undifferentiated mesophyll, and a bundle sheath surrounding vascular bundles in a leaf. Unlike the leaf, the scale leaf contains air chambers in the mesophyll region and bundle sheath is absent. The tendril had uniseriate cuticularized epidermis followed by few layers of cells developing wall thickenings, and collateral vascular bundles. The mature stem is differentiated from the young stem by the presence of bi-layered epidermis, the absence of stomata on the stem surface, and chlorenchymatous hypodermis. Air passage containing epidermis covered by thin cuticle is recorded in the stem. Starch grains are present in the tuber ground tissue. Velamen is reported for the first time in G. superba root. Scalariform perforation end plate present in root metaxylem. Roots of G. superba are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi. Therefore, these anatomical traits could aid in the identification of G. superba. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Anatomy of vegetative parts of Gloriosa superba was studied. Air-passage enveloped by uniseriate epidermis present in stem. Bundle sheath surrounds vascular bundles of leaf and stem. Cells of rhizome ground tissue contain abundant starch grains. Velamen tissue is reported for the first time in roots.