Abstract

ANATOMICAL STUDIES ON THE LEAF OF LUDWIGIA PERENNIS L.

M. Sharmila* and M. Rajeswari

ABSTRACT

The present investigation is to provide information on the anatomical studies on the leaf of Ludwigia perennis. The fresh leaf was undertaken by rotary microtome and examined on photomicrographs, to find out identical characteristics. The leaf consists of a thin lamina and thick midrib. The midrib has adaxial part, abaxial part, epidermis, parenchyma cells, ground tissues, deeply boat shaped vascular strand, xylem, phloem elements are present. The lateral veins are small, prominent, contains compact parenchyma cells, spindle shaped epidermal cells with cuticle; small, circular collateral vascular strand present in the upper part of the vein. Lamina is distinctly dorsiventral and heteromorphic, thick, mesophyll tissue contains long cylindrical palisade cells, small loosely arranged spongy cells, and wide air chambers are present. Calcium oxalate crystals are abundant in mesophyll and it consists of two types. They are druses and raphides. The stomata are diffusely distributed, actinocytic and cyclocytic; some are diacytic. The guard cells are broadly elliptical.

Keywords: Ludwigia, leaf, anatomy, lamina, midrib, veins.