Open AccessStudies in the Hypoxidaceae. I. Vegetative morphology and anatomyt
Author(s) -
M. F. Thompson
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
bothalia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 2311-9284
pISSN - 0006-8241
DOI - 10.4102/abc.v12i1.1383
Subject(s) - vascular bundle , mucilage , corm , botany , plant stem , morphology (biology) , biology , anatomy , zoology
The leaf and corm morphology and anatomy of representatives of the genera Spiloxene, Pauridia and Empodium were studied. The corms are annual and tunicated, except in the group Aquaticae of Spiloxene. They are swollen stems consisting of a number of internodes. In Spiloxene and Pauridia the roots grow from the base of the corm, while in Empodium they develop from the sides. The epidermis of the older corms is replaced by several layers of thin-walled cork. Characters of the corm coverings are used to divide Spiloxene into six groups. Four leaf forms are recognised namely carinate, terete, canaliculate and plicate. Multicellular processes and unicellular hairs occur occasionally. The leaf stomata are paracytic. Most species have mucilage canals containing pectic compounds of mucopolysaccharides. The vascular bundles have complete or incomplete bundle sheaths and larger bundles have sclerenchyma caps.