@article{Farooqui_2001, title={Micromorphology and Adaptation of leaf epidermal traits in Rhizophoraceae to Coastal Wetland Ecosystem}, volume={50}, url={https://jpsonline.co.in/index.php/jop/article/view/1830}, DOI={10.54991/jop.2001.1830}, abstractNote={<p>The leaf epidermal/cuticular micromorphological feature was studied in four genera <em>vis-a-vis</em> <em>Rhizophora</em>, <em>Kandelia</em>, <em>Ceriops</em> and <em>Bruguiera</em> of family Rhizophoraceae. While Rhizophora has the means to exude excess salt through their stomatal modification (cork-wart-like structure), <em>Kandelia</em> shows rupture in the epithelium perhaps for the same reason. No cork-wart-like structure was found in <em>Kandelia</em>, <em>Ceriops</em> and <em>Bruguiera</em> species. The epidermal cell size, stomatal length and breadth, stomatal index and differentiation in the costal and intercostal cell wall pattern are the identifiable traits in all the species studied. <em>Rhizophora apiculata</em> and <em>Bruguiera caryophylloides</em> shows increase/ decrease in the epidermal cell size and Stomatal indices with the varying coastal ecology. During salinity related stress the cork-wart-like structure in <em>Rhizophora apiculata</em> on the lower epidermis becomes rudimentary and non-functional while it is well developed and of larger size in normal ecological conditions. <em>Bruguiera cylindrica</em> differs with all the species in having undulate cell wall pattern in the coastal area studded with the stomata and shows closer affinity with <em>B. gymnorrhiza</em> (costal cells distinct but with sinuate anticlinal cell wall) and not with its Syn. <em>B. caryophylloides</em> in this respect. The stomatal index (SI) in <em>Rhizophora apiculata</em> shows similarity with that of <em>Bruguiera parviflora</em> and <em>B. gymnorrhiza</em>. However, <em>R apiculata</em> growing in stressed environment shows similar SI as in <em>Bruguiera sexangula</em> and other species of Rhizophora, Ceriops and Kandelia. It is understood that perhaps <em>Rhizophora apiculata</em> and <em>C. decandra</em> (Syn. <em>C. roxburghiana</em>) and <em>B. cylindrica</em> (Syn. B. caryophylloides) have SI as a non-consistent feature that tends to vary with the changing environment. Mangrove species showing similarity in the epidermal traits and their adaptive features may thrive together in a common coastal environment. Leaf epidermal traits of Rhizophoraceae would help in the identification of fossil cuticles at a specific level and their non-consistent features adapting to the changing coastal environment would provide potential proxy data for interpreting palaeoecology.</p>}, number={(1-3)}, journal={Journal of Palaeosciences}, author={Farooqui, Anjum}, year={2001}, month={Dec.}, pages={295–309} }