PJB-2023-255
COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF UTRICULARIA SPECIES FROM TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS OF GIRNAR HILLS, INDIA
VIJAY R. PARMAR
Abstract
Utricularia species have a unique habitat for survival, flowing water is necessary to capture small organisms. Water is necessary for both aquatic (U. stellaris) and terrestrial species (U. reticulata), with aquatic Utricularia species growing freely in standing water. The plant leaves are small and play a role in the primary phase of life, after feeding through the bladder, by grasping prey (roots are absent)
Methodology: Terrestrial and aquatic species of Utricularia are collected from different region of Gujarat. Fresh material was used for the anatomical studies, by using hand cut with a sharp blade and later stained with different stain. These sections are viewed under the light microscope with 10x and 45x resolution.
Results: This species develops different macroscopic and microscopic structures than other angiosperms. U. reticulata grows on rocky sites and has small, flattened leaves, filamentous rhizoids, and an ovoid bladder attached to the stolons and underside of the leaf. U. stellaris has long cylindrical, pointed leaves with a bladder. Light microscopic anatomical examination of Utricularia differs from that of other plants, they have glandular structure on leaves and stolons, they have no particular arrangement of vascular bundles, and pericycle and endodermis are not identified. The number of sclerenchyma cells is less and the mesophyll cells are not visible in the leaf. The leaf has no complex venation, but only one or two, and the cortex has a large air space with aerenchyma to facilitate swimming on the water surface.
Conclusion: The anatomical structures of Utricularia differ from those of other angiosperms. They have no vascular bundles similar to those of angiosperms and have other differences in that they do not absorb minerals into the soil, but absorb water and minerals directly through their bladder. Vegetative organs of Utricularia leaf, shoot and root characteristics can develop depending on evolution, habitat and environmental conditions. It is possible that the results of our study will serve as a foundation for future research in developmental genetics and morphology, as well as in understanding phylogenetic relationships within Lentibulariaceae and in understanding (unusual) plant structures more generally.
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