Epidermal Studies in some Members of Andropogoneae (Poaceae)

Abstract

The aim of this study was the micromorphology of the members of Andropogoneae (Poaceae) and to prepare the identification key using micromorphological features. Members of Andropogoneae were collected from the Navasari and surrounding areas, a district of Gujarat and scrutinized for detailed micromorphological study. Epidermal studies pertains to epidermal cell size, epidermal frequency, stomatal frequency and index, presence of micro-hairs, papillae, its frequency and types of silica bodies of 5 taxa belonging to tribe Andropogoneae of family Poaceae have been presented. All the 5 studied members show the variation in the arrangement of the epidermal cells in both the epidermises. The observed uniformity in certain epidermal characters and presence or absence of prickles, silica bodies, papillae and stomatal pattern helps in identification of presently studied 5 taxa.