Comparative Anatomy of Secretory Cavities in Leaves of the Rutaceae in China

LIU Wen-Zhe, HU Zheng-Hai

Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:1998-03-10 Published:1998-03-10
Contact: LIU Wen-Zhe

Abstract:

Comparative observations were made on the morphology and anatomy of secretory

cavities in leaves of 22 genera, 40 species and two varieties by the whole mounting, paraffin

and thin section method. A mature cavity consists of one layer of epithelial cells surrounding

a large intercellular space and one to five layers of peripheral sheath cells. The epithelial cells

were flattened, thin-walled and integrated, which suggests that the cavities developed

schizogenously. The sheath cells were also flattened. The cell walls of the outer layers had

relative thickenings. The number of layers of the sheath cells varied with species. A few of

species appeared to lack the sheath cells. The localization and structure of the cavities were

correlated with taxa at generic and specific level. According to their structural features and

arrangement in leaves, the secretory cavities can be grouped into four types as follows: the

notch type (between the leaf-teeth), the mesophyll type which is subdivided into spongy

parenchyma subtype and palisade parenchyma subtype, and the mixed type (with both notch

and mesophyll cavities). Based on these observations evolutionary trends concerning the mor-

phology and anatomy of cavities and affinity among subfamilies or genera are discussed. It is

suggested that the mixed type of cavities developed from the notch and mesophyll types.

Key words: Rutaceae, Secretory cavities, Comparative anatomy

LIU Wen-Zhe, HU Zheng-Hai. Comparative Anatomy of Secretory Cavities in Leaves of the Rutaceae in China[J]. .

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