Abstract
Chaetostoma glaziovii Cogn. is an endemic species of the Brazilian flora and grows exclusively in fields at elevations above 2000 meters. It belongs to Melastomataceae family, Microlicieae tribe, which presents little variation on vegetative organs, making it difficult to identify sterile individuals. Anatomical studies, using optical and scanning electron microscopes are carried on comparing the data with the anatomical characteristics of xeromorphic plants, cited in the literature, to check its similarities. This study aims, also, highlight data that may contribute to characterization of the species due to the great similarities among sterile individuals within the tribe. Leaf and stem anatomical data of C. glaziovii are interpreted considering climatic factors, aiming to understand the species’ successful establishment in an environment characterized by intense light exposure, strong winds and extreme temperatures. It is noteworthy the great amount of fibers on the abaxial and marginal regions of leaf blade, forming an armor against environmental aggressions. In addition, this characteristic is valued from the taxonomic perspective because no other species of the tribe exhibits such extensive fiber development. The material was collected in the Itatiaia National Park at an altitude of 2350 meters, latitude S 22° 23' 26'' and longitude W 44o 40' 17''. Histochemical tests were performed on unfixed samples to identify starch grains, lipids, phenolic compounds, glycides and crystals. The anatomical data revealed that some characteristics of C. glaziovii are like those found on xeromorphic plants and are important for its identification beyond to contribute for understanding the intricate plant-environment relationships.
Highlights
Chaetostoma glaziovii Cogn. belongs to Melastomataceae, a botanical family, distributed in pantropical regions and is one of the biggest families of Angiosperms, with about 4570 species (RENNER, 1993; CLAUSING & RENNER, 2001)
The morphological and anatomical data of C. glaziovii analyzed in this work corroborate the hypothesis of similarity between this plant and the anatomical characteristics of the xeromorphic plants mentioned by ESAU (1977), FAHN (1990), CUTTER (1987) and APPEZZATO-DA-GLÓRIA & CARMELLO-GUERREIRO (2012)
By analyzing the obtained data it can be concluded that the anatomical characteristics of C. glaziovii are similar to those of xeromorphic plants
Summary
Chaetostoma glaziovii Cogn. belongs to Melastomataceae, a botanical family, distributed in pantropical regions and is one of the biggest families of Angiosperms, with about 4570 species (RENNER, 1993; CLAUSING & RENNER, 2001). BRADE (1956) stated that this species was endemic of Itatiaia rock outcrops, but it was found later in Serra dos Órgãos – RJ, in Campos da Bocaina – SP and in Passa Quatro – MG. C. glaziovii occurs only in southeastern Brazil and always in mountainous areas (RIBEIRO et al, 2007). In any of these regions, the species inhabits at altitudes above 2,000 meters.
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