EPIDERMAL FEATURES AND SILICA DEPOSITION IN LEMMAS AND AWNS OF ZIZANIA (GRAMINEAE)

Abstract

In four species of Zizania (Gramineae: Oryzeae) epidermal features of pistillate and staminate lemmas, paleas, and awns were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. Features observed were silica bodies, siliceous papillae, pitted siliceous papillae, stomata, microhairs, and prickle hairs. Staminate lemmas have all of these features. Pistillate lemmas have silica bodies and prickle hairs, lack stomata, and differ among species in occurrences of microhairs and siliceous papillae and pitted siliceous papillae. Awns of pistillate lemmas have silica bodies, prickle hairs, microhairs, and stomata; therefore, they possess a more complete set of features than their attached lemmas. Shapes of silica bodies on pistillate lemmas differ among species. A taxonomic key based on SEM observation of pistillate lemmas separates the four species by the shapes of silica bodies, arrangement of prickle hairs, and occurrences of microhairs and siliceous papillae. The main silica‐containing structures are silica bodies, siliceous papillae, pitted siliceous papillae, and to a lesser extent prickle hairs. Pitted siliceous papillae with circular raised rims are formed by collapse or exfoliation of the tops of siliceous papillae; these have not been previously described in grasses. Comparison of epidermal features in the lemmas and leaves of Zizania shows that the former lack three kinds of nonsilicified papillae and epicuticular wax that are present on the latter but the lemmas have siliceous papillae and pits that are absent in leaves.