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A morpho‐anatomical characterisation of Myrothamnus moschatus (Myrothamnaceae) under the aspect of desiccation tolerance
Author(s) -
Korte N.,
Porembski S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00546.x
Subject(s) - biology , desiccation , morpho , botany , shrub , desiccation tolerance , plant anatomy , vascular bundle , plant morphology
Morpho‐anatomical traits of the rarely studied dicotyledonous desiccation‐tolerant shrub Myrothamnus moschatus were examined and compared for the first time to Myrothamnus flabellifolius under the aspect of desiccation tolerance. Both species almost exclusively occur on rock outcrops and differ mainly in their geographic range and leaf morphology (fan‐shaped in M. flabellifolius , lanceolate in M. moschatus ) but have a very similar leaf and wood anatomy, except for the lack of hydathodes in M. moschatus . Both species adopt the parallel leaf venation of monocots, although this is more pronounced in M. moschatus . This provides a mechanical and protective advantage over the net venation pattern of most dicots and facilitates the reversible, drought‐induced, accordion‐like leaf contraction. The sclerenchyma, as a stabilising tissue, is mainly confined to vascular bundles in leaves of both species. Here, mechanical support seems to be less crucial for survival in long periods of drought than other morpho‐anatomical traits ( e.g. parallel leaf venation).