Chaffey, N (1994) 'Structure and function of the membranous grass ligule: a comparative study.' Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 116 (1). pp. 53-69.
Abstract
Membranous ligules of 49 grass species, representing ten tribes, were anatomically studied using light, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Great variety in ligule abaxial surface anatomy was found but internally all ligules so studied possess a tripartite structure of two uniseriate epidermes enclosing a mesophyll tissue of varying thickness. Chloroplasts were present in most of the ligules (where this feature was determined) supporting the view that this is a photosynthetic leaf organ. Of the 36 species examined by fluorescence microscopy eight showed evidence of having a gland-like adaxial epidermis with numerous mitochondria, dictyosomes, strands of rough endoplasmic reticulum and fibrillar material within the periplasmic space next to the outer tangential wall. Existing hypotheses of ligule function are discussed in the light of these anatomical results, and a new hypothesis is proposed.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | fluorescence microscopy; Gramineae; Poaceae; secretion-ultrastructure |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QK Botany |
| Divisions: | School of Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jul 2015 12:18 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Aug 2021 09:40 |
| ISSN: | 1095-8339 |
| URI / Page ID: | https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/6410 |
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