ANATOMY AND MORPHOLOGY OF Cheilantes pilosa (PTERIDACEAE)

HERNÁNDEZ, MARCELA ALICIA; NÁZARO, MARÍA GABRIELA; ORQUEDA, MARÍA EUGENIA

Tafí del Valle

Jornada; XXVII REUNION ANUAL CIENTIFICA Asociación de Biología de Tucumán; 2010

Asociación de Biología de Tucumán

Cheilantes pilosa Goldman is a cheilanthoid fern that can be found from Perú to Argentina between 1500 and 4000 m a.s.l. In Argentina it grows on rock ledges, cliffs, canyon walls and in rock cavities in the northwestern and central regions. The aim of this work is to analyze its anatomy and functional morphology. Frond diaphanization, free hand sections and specific staining were used. Stomatic index, size and frequency were calculated for 11 individuals collected in El Infiernillo, Tucumán. Creeping rhizome with narrow scales. Fronds 8-30 cm terete and pilose petiole. Bipinnate fronds. Adaxial epidermis with sinuous cell walls and abaxial isodiametric cells with lobulated walls. Fronds covered with 1-5 cell glandular trichomes with globose head. Hipostomatic lamina with anomocitic stomata of 38.83 μm x 30.91 μm. Stomatic index 18.87; frequency 78 stomates/mm2. Lobulated reflex margin with rectangular cells and trichomes. The mesophyll has 2-3 layers of palisade and 4-6 of spongy parenchyma with protostelic vascular bundle. Petiole has a protostelic vascular bundle with V-shaped xylem. Soleno-dictiostelic rhizome. Adventitious roots with primary diarch structure with sclerenchymatic cortex surrounding the vascular cylinder. Anatomical and morphological characters that allow the survival of this species, reducing water loss, are discussed.