Abstract
Abstract Besides their ecological importance, epiphytic species of Orchidaceae play economic and social roles through their commercialization and some are at great risk of extinction. The objectives of this study were to characterize the leaf and root anatomy of fourteen epiphytic Orchidaceae species, which occur in indigenous territory in the Parque Estadual da Serra do Tabuleiro (P.E.S.T.), Santa Catarina, Brazil and to identify adaptive anatomical characteristics related to the epiphytic habit. The species are commercialized by the Guarani and were collected during interviews and guided tours with Guarani in the indigenous territory. The results reveal the species have many morphoanatomical structures that are useful during water shortages resulting from the epiphytic habit. Notable characteristics are related to reserving water (i.e., pseudobulbs and a hypodermis with water-storage cells) and resistance to desiccation in the leaf (i.e., conspicuous cuticle, suprastomatic chamber and extraxylary and pericyclic fibers) and root (i.e., tilosomes and/or exodermal thickening and cortex cells with phi thickenings or sclereids). Descriptions and the identification of adaptive characteristics of epiphytic plant species are useful for conservation and cultivation studies, especially for plants commercially used by the Guarani Indians.
Highlights
The family Orchidaceae is the second largest angiosperm family, in number of species, and includes 736 genera in five subfamilies (Chase et al 2015)
The objectives of the present study were to describe and compare the leaf and root anatomy of epiphytic Orchidaceae species that are commercially used by the Guarani in areas of Serra do Tabuleiro State Park, in order to better understand the adaptive capacity of these species in relation to the environment where they grow
Trichomes in depression were observed on both epidermis surfaces in B. inodora, G. bufonia, H. brasiliensis and E. patens (Fig. 2d-e; Tab. 2)
Summary
The family Orchidaceae is the second largest angiosperm family, in number of species, and includes 736 genera in five subfamilies (Chase et al 2015). Among epiphytic plants, Orchidaceae dominate in number and diversity of species (Kersten 2010) in all ecosystems worldwide, especially in neotropical regions (Dressler 2005; Chase et al 2015). Epiphytic vascular plants are mainly found in tropical and subtropical forests on tree trunks and branches (Benzing 2008) Since their roots are not in contact with the soil, water is the main limiting factor for their survival, growth and distribution (Zotz & Hietz 2001). Many anatomical characteristics vary among species, representing different strategies of epiphytic survival that can be used in taxonomic studies. Oliveira-Pires et al (2003) analyzed species of Prosthechea Hook. and Encyclia Knowles & Westc. noted differences and identified unusual characteristics that are not found in other epiphytic species (e.g., flavonoid crystals in the roots, fiber strands in the subepidermal layer and thickness of the leaf cuticle), which they used to distinguish the studied genera
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