Structure of Stem and Cambial Variant in Spatholobus Roxburgii (Leguminosae)

Abstract

The stern of Spatholobus roxburghii, a tropicalliana, has alternating layers of xylem and phloem as a result of formation and activity of successive cambia. Successive cambial rings are developed by dedifferentiation of groups of parenchyma cells outside the discontinuous band of sclereid-fibres. The sclereid- fibre band is formed by the development of sclereids between the primary bark fibres. Each successive cambium first produces a layer of sclereid-fibres which separates the vascular tissue produced by one cambial ring from the other. After secondary growth, the epidermis is replaced by periderm. In the older stern phelloderm contributes to the formation of new cambiallayers. Secondary phloem has sieve tube members; companion cells, phloem parenchyma, phloem fibres and secretory cells. The wood shows a tendency towards ring-porosity only in the first xylem layer. The subsequent layers are diffuseporous. The vessels are wide and narrow. Perforated ray cells or radial vessels are frequent in the wood and probably help in vertical conduction by interconnecting vessel endings. In this scandent species parenchyma cells are abundant. It is inferred that they help the vessel segments to remain undamaged when the woody stern twists around supports.