scholarly journals The structure of some floral elements and the nectar production rate of Polemonium caeruleum L.

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirosława Chwil

The present study, carried out in the period 2008 - 2009, covered some morphological and anatomical features of the flowers of <i>Polemonium caeruleum</i> L. and their nectar production rate in the climatic conditions of the Lublin region. Observations were made with stereoscopic, light and scanning electron microscopy. Nectar production in the flowers was determined using the pipette method. The flowers of <i>Polemonium caeruleum</i> develop a calyx covered by an epidermis with numerous non-glandular and glandular trichomes. The secretory trichomes are composed of a several-celled stalk and a four-celled head. At the boundary of the corolla tube and the lobes, there is white colouration with violet nectar guides. The epidermis in this region produces several-celled living trichomes that close the entry into the corolla tube, thereby protecting the nectar accumulated in it. These hairs are at the same time glistening colour attractants for insects. The tripartite stigma of the pistil is covered, from the adaxial side, by unicellular papillae with striated cuticular ornamentation, growing at high density. Around the ovary there is located a nectariferous disc, in the form of a free projection, which secrets nectar with sugar concentration of 29 - 52% and sugar weight ranging 1.1 - 1.8 mg/flower.

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirosława Chwil

The genus <i>Tradescantia</i> comprises about 70 species. In Poland <i>Tradescantia x andersoniana</i> is basically grown as an ornamental plant that is recommended for borders and to be planted around garden ponds. The present study investigated flowering as well as the micromorphological and anatomical features of some floral elements of <i>Tradescantia x andersoniana</i> W. Ludw. Rohweder 'Karin'. The macro- and micromorphology of the flowers was examined using stereoscopic, light, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Spiderwort produces flowers with a diameter of 4.6-5 cm, which open early in the morning and close at noon. Non-glandular and glandular hairs grow on the abaxial surface of the calyx and on the apical part of the ovary. The glandular hairs develop a several-celled stalk and a unicellular spherical or elongated head. The staminal filaments produce chain-shaped trichomes. Striate cuticular ornamentation is found on their surface and on the epidermis covering the perianth. The striae on the cells of the stamen hairs run to the two poles of the cell. The pistil develops a wet stigma with unfused unicellular papillae. The cuticle on their surface is smooth, whereas on the style near the stigma it forms dense folds.


2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weronika Haratym ◽  
Elżbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska

<em>Euphrasia stricta </em>D. Wolff ex J. F. Lehm. (Orobanchaceae) is a representative of plants that are widely used in folk medicine, phytomedicine, and homeopathy. The medicinal raw material derived from the drug eyebright is applied primarily in treatment of ophthalmic diseases. The investigations of trichomes in drug eyebright (<em>Euphrasia stricta </em>D. Wolff ex J. F. Lehm) were conducted in 2010–2011. Using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, their location and morphological and anatomical features were identified. Three types of non-glandular trichomes were found: short unicellular, long 1–2 celled, and long 2-celled with wall ornamentation. Additionally, 7 types of glandular trichomes were found; these included: unicellular clavate, 2–3-celled clavate, capitate with a unicellular head and a 3-cel- led stalk, capitate with a unicellular head and a 2-celled stalk, capitate with a 2-celled head, conical papillae, and ribbon-like trichomes with wall thickening.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarcymara Barata Garcia ◽  
Raimunda Conceição de Vilhena Potiguara ◽  
Tatiani Yuriko Souza Kikuchi ◽  
Diego Demarco ◽  
Ana Cristina Andrade de Aguiar-Dias

Theobroma species have economic importance due to their use in the cosmetic and food industries, mainly in the production of chocolate. However, the anatomy of their vegetative structures remains poorly studied. The goal of this study was to describe the anatomical features of Theobroma grandiflorum, T. speciosum and T. subincanum to contribute to the biological knowledge of these species, as well as provide support to the biotechnological studies of native fruit plants of the Amazon. Leaves at different developmental stages were collected and analyzed under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Sessile and stalked stellate trichomes and digitiform glandular trichomes were observed in the expanded leaves of T. grandiflorum and T. subincanum. These species were also similar in the morphology of the midrib, the organization of the mesophyll and the presence of starch grains in the midrib pith cells. Claviform glandular trichomes and mucilage cells in the epidermis occurred only in the expanded leaves of T. speciosum. The presence of mucilage secretory trichomes in shoot apices (colleters) of all species is a new finding for the genus Theobroma.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 679-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Gavrilović ◽  
Suzana Erić ◽  
Petar D. Marin ◽  
Núria Garcia-Jacas ◽  
Alfonso Susanna ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this work, weddellite and sylvite crystals are identified for the first time on the involucral bracts and petals of Xeranthemum annuum and Xeranthemum cylindraceum using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometric (SEM-EDS) analysis. Well-developed crystals of weddellite (CaC2O4·2H2O) occur in the form of a tetragonal bipyramid (hhl), rarely in combination of a bipyramid and tetragonal prism (h00). Indumentum of involucral bracts of X. cylindraceum consists of nonglandular and glandular trichomes. Sylvite (KCl) crystals are observed only on the petal surface of X. cylindraceum. The crystals of sylvite occur in the form of perfect cubes (hexahedrons), but some crystals are deformed, i.e., partially elongated. Taxonomic significance of investigated microcharacters as well as the use of SEM-EDS analysis in taxonomic studies of plants are discussed.


IAWA Journal ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryogo Nakada ◽  
Kaichiro Kawamura

The anatomy of tawara-shibo stems of Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a light microscope. Tawara-shibo is a strange stem form with a series of swellings that appear at regular intervals along the stem axis. Multiseriate rays, trabeculae and related structures, and modified tracheids were frequently observed at swollen portions. These features were less frequent at non-swollen portions.We conclude that abnormal cambial activities, occurring at regular longitudinal intervals, cause the formation and development of these three anatomical features and higher growth rates at swollen portions. As a result of differences in growth rate between swollen and non-swollen portions, the stem form of tawara-shibo develops. It is suggested that formation of the characteristics observed in tawara-shibo stems is genetically controlled by hormonal secretion into or within the cambium.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hüseyin CILDIR ◽  
Ahmet KAHRAMAN ◽  
Musa DOGAN

In this study, the epidermal types and their distribution on dorsal and lateral petals, the trichome types and their density on sepals of Lathyrus chloranthus, L. digitatus, L. laxiflorus subsp. laxiflorus, L. roseus subsp. roseus, L. sativus, and L. tuberosus, belonging to sections Lathyrus, Lathyrostylis, Pratensis, and Orobon of the genus Lathyrus in Turkey were investigated using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the systematic significance of these characters was evaluated. These taxa, except L. sativus, are studied for the first time under aspects of the petal and sepal micromorphology. Three major epidermal types were recognized on the petal: tabular rugose striate cells (TRS), areolate cells with more or less striations (AS), and papillose conical striate cells (PCS). TRS and AS were further subdivided into three subtypes. TRS was found on the dorsal and lateral petals of L. chloranthus, L. sativus, and L. tuberosus: the dorsal petals of L. roseus subsp. roseus and the lateral petals of L. laxiflorus subsp. laxiflorus, while AS was present on the dorsal and lateral petals of L. digitatus and the lateral petals of L. roseus subsp. roseus. PCS was found only on the dorsal petals of L. digitatus. Three main types of trichomes on the sepal were observed: peltate glandular, capitate glandular, and nonglandular trichomes. The capitate glandular and nonglandular trichomes were further subdivided into three subtypes. The peltate glandular trichomes were present only in L. chloranthus, but absent in the others. The capitate glandular trichomes were found in L. chloranthus, L. laxiflorus subsp. laxiflorus, L. roseus subsp. roseus, and L. tuberosus. The nonglandular trichomes were always present in L. chloranthus and L. laxiflorus subsp. laxiflorus. The present results show that the petal and sepal micromorphology can be used in delimitation of the taxa based on petal and sepal micromorphology.


Author(s):  
Saleem E. Shahbaz ◽  
Nazar M. Shareef

Introduction: Paliurus spina-christi Mill is a species with two varieties namely Paliurus spina-christi L. var. spina-christi and Paliurus spina-christivar. macrocarpa Beck native to mountains of Kurdistan, rarely growing in the upper plains of northern Iraq. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 plants from different parts of Kurdistan region were sampled. 30measurements for each characters of Leaf, Inflorescence, Flowers, Fruit, seeds, and leaf anatomical characters were measured for comparison between the two varieties. Results and Discussion: Fruit diameter of var. macrocarpa is significantly larger than fruit diameter of var. spina-christi. Most mean flower parts especially the ovary, in addition to seed size is larger in var. macrocarpa. Upper epidermal layer is always thicker than the lower epidermal layer for the same blade. The isobilateral mesophyll includes 2 layers of long palisade cells adaxially and 2-3 layers of short cells abaxially. Many vascular bundles are seen equally spaced in the mesophyll tissue.With the exception of the presence of simple hairs on the petiole adaxial side of the var. spina-cristi and the absence of these hairs from the same site of var. macrocarpa, all other anatomical features are considered to be of no taxonomic application. Stomatal density of the adaxial leaf side is up to 19 stomata per mm² in var. spina-christi while it is up to 38 stomata per mm² in var. macrocarpa. Conclusions: Both fruit diameter and the stomatal density of the adaxial leaf side constitute diagnostic characters for separating between the two varieties of Paliurus spina-christi Mill


2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18
Author(s):  
Laura L. Bruner ◽  
Donald J. Eakes ◽  
Gary J. Keever ◽  
James W. Baier ◽  
Celia Stuart Whitman ◽  
...  

Abstract In landscape studies conducted in 2002 and 2003, Lantana camara (L.) ‘New Gold’ and ‘Radiation’ were visited by native butterflies to a greater extent than the remaining eight lantana in the studies. Other lantana visited preferentially but not as consistently included L. camara ‘White Doves’, ‘Firewagon’, ‘Confetti’, and Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) ‘Weeping Lavender’. In general, the lowest visitation was experienced by L. camara ‘Cherry’ and ‘Carlos’. Total visit duration by one randomly selected butterfly was greater for ‘New Gold’, ‘Radiation’, ‘Firewagon’, and ‘White Doves’ than the remaining lantana. Plant characteristics including inflorescence number, number of flowers per inflorescence, percentage of yellow flowers per inflorescence, growth index, flower morphology, and flower color characteristics differed among cultivars. Cultivar differences that consistently correlated with visitation preferences were inflorescence number in 2002 and 2003, flower number per inflorescence in 2003, percentage of yellow flowers per inflorescence in 2002 and 2003, and growth index in 2003. Flower lightness and flower chroma correlated sporadically with visitation in late September and October 2002 and 2003. Percentage light reflectance of flowers for the wavelengths of green, yellow, orange, and red correlated with visitation in 2003. Based on correlation analysis, the cultivar characteristics that did not contribute to visitation differences included inflorescence width, corolla width, and corolla tube length. In a separate study conducted in 2003 using the same lantana as in the visitation study, nectar volume, carbohydrate composition, and sucrose and fructose concentrations differed among inflorescences. Of ten Lantana evaluated, ‘Carlos’ and ‘Confetti had the largest inflorescence nectar volumes combined from nine flowers while ‘New Gold’, ‘White Doves’, and ‘Weeping Lavender’ had the smallest. The ratio of sucrose to hexose (fructose and glucose) in nectar from ‘Weeping Lavender’, ‘White Doves’, and ‘New Gold’ was greater than that of the remaining Lantana. The lowest ratios of sucrose to hexose were found for ‘Irene’, ‘Hot Country’, and ‘Carlos’, while similar to ‘Cherry’ and ‘Radiation’. The sucrose to hexose ratio for recently opened inner flowers was double that of middle and outer flowers. Sucrose and total sugar concentrations were greatest in recently opened inner flowers compared to middle and outer flowers. While direct comparison to the 2002 and 2003 studies of butterfly visitation preferences was not possible due to experimental design, data trends suggest a possible relationship between sugar composition, inflorescence nectar production and visitation from native butterfly species.


1993 ◽  
Vol 48 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 736-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf Engel ◽  
Paul-Gerhard Gülz ◽  
Thorsten Herrmann ◽  
Adolf Nahrstedt

Glandular trichomes in form of long stretched tubes are present on the lower leaf side of Quercus robur as shown by scanning electron microscopy. The glands contain an essential oil, which was isolated by steam distillation together with volatile waxy components of the leaves in an amount of 0.025% of fresh leaves. The product of steam distillation was analyzed by GC-MS. Identification of com pounds is based on comparison of their mass spectral data with those of authentic samples in combination with retention indices and MS data using the SeKoMS (Search Kovats Indices and Mass Spectra) Library. Altogether 184 components of the product of steam distillation were separated, 155 of which could be identified, another 7 were tentatively assigned. Three groups of substances according to their chemical composition are found: hexenyl derivatives and some acetals (32%); terpenes including monoterpenes (4% ), sesquiterpenes and diterpenes (21%); and alkane derivatives (35%). The residual 8% consist of benzyl alcohol, com pounds which stem from the degradation of carotenes, and miscellaneous constituents


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