Leaf epidermal studies of selected species of Ipomoea Linn.
1S Rajalekshmi and 1T Praveen Dhar
1Mahatma Gandhi College (Research Centre Under University of Kerala) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – 695 004 (India) 2Department of Botany, St. Stephen’s College, Pathanapuram, Kollam, Kerala-689 695 (India) Author for correspondence email: dharpraveent@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Ipomoea is the largest genus of family Convolvulaceae which consist of nearly 1650 species among which 150 species are from India. They are herbs, shrubs or usually twinning. The present study is intended to analyze the leaf epidermal studies of five selected species of genus Ipomoea shows ecological variations. Epidermal characters are of great value in identification and classification of disputed taxa. Epidermal peels were taken mechanically from abaxial and adaxial surface of leaf. They were first washed in distilled water and stained 1% aqueous Safranin. The observation of the study revealed that the stomatal frequency and stomatal index of selected species varies from species to species. And also the stomatal size among the species shows remarkable variation. Presence of trichomes also varies from species to species.