Studies on foliar epidermal micromorphology, vegetative anatomy and xylem elements of four members of portulacaceae

This investigation deals with the comparative studies on leaf epidermal micromorphology, vegetative (stem and petiole) anatomy and xylem elements of four members of the family Portulacaceae. The species selected for the study are Portulaca grandiflora Hook., Portulaca oleracea L., Portulaca quadrifida L. and Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss. which have medicinal importance. In each case, the epidermal cells are irregular in shape and cell wall outline is wavy. Size of epidermal cells ranges from 37.64 µm × 71.25 µm to 48.91 µm × 81.91 µm. Stomata are of paracytic type in all four taxa. Stomatal size varies from 23.52 µm × 16.51 µm to 39.2 µm × 23.36 µm. Stomatal index varies from 12.35 to 19.7. Palisade ratio ranges from 5.75 to 7.84. Stem anatomy of the investigated taxa does not show any variation in the basic pattern of tissue arrangement. Petiole anatomy of the investigated species shows variation in number and arrangement of the vascular bundles. Number of vascular bundle ranges from 4 to 14. Vascular bundles show the circular arrangement in all three species of Portulaca. But in Talinum fruticosum, it is horse - shoe shaped. Vessel elements have simple and transverse or obliquely placed perforation plate. Tracheids are with spiral side wall thickening and their width ranges from 15.68µm to 26.41µm. Fibres are long with thick wall and gradually tapering tips. Besides the morphological characters, this study may provide some diagnostic foliar micromorphological and anatomical features that can be used in proper identification of these taxa.