Vascularization of a Multilacunar Species: Polyscias quilfoylei (Araliaceae). I. The Stem

Abstract

The odd-pinnate leaves of Polyscias quilfoylei have a sheathing leaf base that completely encircles the stem. At each node, many traces depart the vascular cylinder and traverse an obliquely upward course through the leaf base before aggregating in the rachis. Lateral traces diverge from parent traces in the stem vasculature at variable times relative to the leaf they serve, from variable positions in the vascular cylinder and from parent traces of variable ages. The stem vasculature is formed by the coalescing of leaf traces from as many as five leaves. All bundles departing the vascular cylinder at a node to serve a leaf are true leaf traces originating independently in the stem. Leaf traces develop acropetally from their positions of origin on parent traces. Primordial leaves are first served by the median trace and later by lateral traces. Many traces were recognized in the internodes subtending embryonic leaves, but they could not be related either to a specific leaf or to a specific position within a leaf. Because these traces had not yet achieved contact with a primordial leaf site, they were assumed to be in the process of developing acropetally at the time of sampling. Observations suggest that the multiple traces in this species might perform a similar function of integrating the vascular cylinder that subsidiary bundles perform in certain uni- and trilacunar species.