Leaf Polymorphism in the seedlings of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr.

Abstract

The type or nature of leaf is usually characteristic of a species (monomorphic), although some species produce more than one type of leaf (dimorphic or polymorphic). Some plants have small changes in leaf size and growth habit between juvenile and mature stage (Homoblasty), while some other species have marked changes in leaf shape and growth habit between juvenile and mature stages (Heteroblasty). In Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr., as a part of seed biology studies, a number of seedlings were raised from the same seed sample which is from the same mother plant. Among the seedlings, 5-10% of the seedlings showed remarkable variations on leaf shape in their juvenile stage. Since leaf shape and allied morphological characters are significant for demarcating Coscinium fenestratum from similarly looking Anamirta cocculus (L.) Wight. & Arn. and Diploclisia glaucascens (Blume.) Diels. of the same family Menispermaceae, documenting the leaf characters of seedling and mature plants deserve unique attention.