Nodal and leaf anatomy of Xanthophyllum (Polygalaceae)

Abstract

The nodal anatomy of Xanthophyllum is unilacunar with a single broad trace departing the cauline stele. The “stipular glands” or extra floral nectaries of some species are vascularized by bundles originating from the base of the leaf trace. Considerable variation exists among species in petiole vasculature with siphonosteles, steles with medullary bundles and simple, flat traces present. The lamina also shows variation in the presence or absence of a hypodermis, nature of vein sheathing, presence or absence of abaxial epidermal papillae, amount of intercellular spaces, and mature stomatal patterns which range from anisocytic and paracytic to those in which no subsidiary cells are discernible. Of nearly uniform occurrence throughout the genus are extraordinary tracheoid foliar idioblasts, which are confined to the veins in terminal or subterminal positions. The large amount of variation in leaf anatomy is shown to be taxonomically significant within the genus.