Anatomy of Pedilanthus tithymaloides with Special Reference to Laticifers

Abstract

Plant latex is a sap that is exuded from damaged vein. It is kept in a tissue specialized in exuding latex called laticifer and is kept inside laticifer cells. It works as an efficient defence system against herbivorous insects. Laticifer is a general term applied to a large and heterogenous group of cell types. In Pedilanthus tithymaloides the laticifers are an elongated; anastomosing network of cells which are non-articulated branched and are commonly located in the outer part of the vascular cylinder. Laticifers extend throughout the length of the plants.