Contribution to knowledge of foliar anatomy on Mnesithea selloana (Hack.) de Koning & Sosef (Andropogoneae-Panicoideae-Poaceae)

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to analyze the foliar anatomy in lamina transverse section an in epidermis superficial view of Mnesithea selloana. Epidermic preparations and transections were carried out of the medium leaf part of sterile innovations that were conditioned and observed with optic microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM).The histofoliar characteristics observed were: epidermic, intercostal, subsidiary, suberose, silicea and bulliform cells; and also guard cells, hairs, waxes, mesophylls, Kranz sheath, vascular bundles, sclerenchyma, colourless parenchyma and leaf margin. Epidermic observations showed that M. selloana presents a panicoid type epidermis presenting silicic cells as halteriforme, longer than wider epidermic cells with anticlinal sinuous walls, guard cells with triangular subsidiary cells and bicellular microhairs. At transecting, the foliar anatomical structure matches the description panicoid type showing that M. selloana presents clorenchymas arranged in only one series around the vascular bundles in some cases with an aditional series functioning as a bond between them. It did not presented meristematic sheath in first order bundles.