Authors : Ramchandra T. Patil
Page Nos : 39-44
Description :
Rhynchospora comprises about 250 species over the world, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions of South America. 10 species in India; 1 in Goa. While Schoenoplectus is represented by about 77 species throughout the world; c15 in India; 5 in Goa. In the present Rhynchospora wightiana (Nees) Steud., Schoenoplectus articulatus (L.) Palla, S. juncoides (Roxb.) Palla and S. lateriflorus (J.F. Gmel.) Lye were studied under light and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Achene shape, size and epidermal patterns were found distinctive and consistent for each species. Number and nature of perianth bristles and variation in the epidermal cells with respect to size of the cell, nature of periclinal wall, the number, thickness and sinuosity of anticlinal walls per cell and presence or absence of silica bodies was found to be useful determining the taxonomic relationship, identification and delimitation of different taxa of Schoenoplectus at species level. In the present study characteristics of epidermal cells are correlated with other morphological characters as well. The micro morphological characters of achene surface were found to be different in dissimilar taxa. However, there is close similarity of these characters in closely related taxa.
