Table 5 Comparative anatomical characteristics of the root of the studied RDS of family Apocynaceae used in ISM (Fig. 1–2)
Plant name | Mean radius of studied root samples ± SE (range) [n = 5] µm | Cork (outer bark) | Inner bark | Xylem | Pith | Medullary rays | Iodine test of dry T.S. showing an abundance of starch in | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General characters | Mean thickness ± SE (range) µm | Cortex (C) | Phloem (P) | C + P, Mean thickness ± SE (range) µm | General characters | Xylem zone mean length ± SE (range) µm | Vessel lumen mean diameter ± SE (range) µm | No. of vessels per 106 µm2 ± SE (range) | |||||||
General characters | Secretory canals | ||||||||||||||
Length ± SE (range) µm | Breadth ± SE (range) µm | ||||||||||||||
A. curassavica | 2581.14 ± 12.79 (2517.75–2623.74) | Outermost broken parenchymatous zone with lignified outer cork cells | 107.23 ± 6.25efg (80.16–138.02) | Ten to twelve layered parenchymatous zone. Transversally elongated cells filled with starch grains Small patches of sclereids Few rosettes, prismatic calcium oxalate crystals are present Small elongated or deformed secretory canals are present | 47.55 ± 4.69b (21.44–68.25) | 23.57 ± 2.72c (13.46–40.45) | Small and dark-colored zone | 303.17 ± 12.05 h (272.71–399.20) | Significant central part of T.S. of the root formed of xylem fibrillar part Small-sized xylem vessels, being randomly present, forming linear and solitary arrangement | 2073.55 ± 5.61b (2047.30–2104.19) | 32.42 ± 3.56d (18.17–53.97) | 62.00 ± 1.07ef (57–68) | Present | Less distinct | Cortex |
C. gigantea | 2207.46 ± 86.08 (1874.21–2608.47) | Outermost zone of parenchymatous, rectangular cells | 332.12 ± 13.25bc (237.28–401.12) | Wide cortex with up to 25 layers of parenchyma cells filled with starch grains Very small circular secretory canals are present | 38.85 ± 3.15b (22.44–53.77) | 25.13 ± 2.07c (15.47–36.59) | Small, less distinct | 583.01 ± 20.65def (466.75–690.74) | The central part with major xylem fiber and parenchyma, separated by medullary rays Vessels scattered, of variable lumen size, present in groups of 2–6 | 1366.48 ± 45.08efg (1186.60–1565.87) | 134.54 ± 24.21a (30.15–275.78) | 22.80 ± 0.48i (20–25) | Absent | Narrow, distinct | Cortex and medullary rays |
C. procera | 2876.81 ± 21.20 (2768.10–2978.51) | Outermost zone of broken cell layers with outer few cell layers lignified, and inner cell layers parenchymatous | 545.86 ± 66.45a (333.31–908.04) | Thick cortex with around 30 cells layered parenchymatous zone Rosette crystals are present Small secretory canals are present | 68.16 ± 3.65b (47.84–81.65) | 42.18 ± 2.28c (33.12–58.55) | Small, less distinct zone | 987.79 ± 32.39b (742.61–1095.66) | The central part with the significant part formed of xylem fiber and parenchyma Vessels scattered, of variable lumen size, present in groups of 2–5 | 1374.59 ± 14.92efg (1310.05–1457.24) | 79.56 ± 9.02bcd (39.94–122.29) | 29.90 ± 1.85hi (23–40) | Absent | Less distinct | Cortex |
C. carandas | 2375.92 ± 47.18 (2209.14–2606.97) | Outermost, broken, irregular cork zone. Cork layers are less lignified | 262.90 ± 12.96 cd (213.11–335.14) | Wide, compactly packed cortex with more than 20 cells layered parenchymatous zone Prismatic crystals, large sclereids bands, starch grains, and broad secretory canals are present | 195.56 ± 21.47a (96.44–322.38) | 112.00 ± 9.51b (58.62–155.31) | Less distinct | 895.32 ± 21.48bc (781.82–997.54) | Fibrillar part with numerous uniformely distributed, solitary xylem vessels | 2003.36 ± 205.53bc (1277.89–2728.54) | 80.1 ± 8.14bcd (34.38–114.95) | 54.40 ± 3.89 fg (46–85) | Absent | Distinct | Cortex and medullary rays |
C. spinarum | 2074.49 ± 55.94 (1747.16–2286.61) | Outermost, broken, irregular, rectangular, less lignified to parenchymatous cell layers | 95.61 ± 8.52 fg (90.32–142.41) | Wide compact parenchymatous zone, up to 20 cells layered Large sclereids bands, broad secretory canals, prismatic crystals, and starch grains are present | 231.21 ± 31.70a (113.09–443.97) | 148.27 ± 18.81a (77.37–275.02) | Less distinct phloem rays present | 607.34 ± 50.79de (434.32–892.25) | Central part fibrillar and with xylem vessels Numerous uniformly distributed, solitary xylem vessels | 1035.25 ± 50.35 h (802.46–1332.71) | 37.89 ± 3.56d (22.88–50.73) | 116.70 ± 3.20 cd (106–137) | Absent | Distinct | Cortex and medullary rays |
C. roseus | 1385.37 ± 42.57 (1217.21–1640.61) | Outer few layers of cork zone slightly lignified | 113.45 ± 10.75efg (80.38–202.62) | Compact parenchymatous zone Secretory canals are compact and deformed | 43.62 ± 5.90b (19.96–91.27) | 23.03 ± 2.56c (14.57–41.87) | Less distinct from cortex zone | 88.17 ± 4.78i (70.73–123.70) | Xylem forms a major part in the center Uniformly distributed xylem vessels present solitary and also in groups | 1258.91 ± 18.13fgh (1334.01–1187.82) | 30.95 ± 2.02d (21.87–42.08) | 481.50 ± 7.52a (440–520) | Absent | Narrow, thin, or less distinct | Cortex |
C. dubia | 1235.64 ± 25.25 (1210.8–1324.31) | Much lignified with compactly packed cells, which generally slough off in T.S | 49.84 ± 2.57 g (40.34–60.21) | Up to 15–20 cell layered parenchymatous zone with oval-shaped cells filled with starch grains Small secretory canals are present | 43.07 ± 3.98b (31.24–66.96) | 37.82 ± 3.72c (24.31–63.47) | Distinct phloem rays present | 593.74 ± 17.23de (523.20–673.80) | Central part nearly circular, xylem with fibrillar part Scattered vessels of variable lumen size, being present singly and also in groups | 488.69 ± 21.19i (378.94–591.61) | 45.45 ± 7.06 cd (25.61–84.93) | 108.20 ± 1.45d (100–115) | Absent | Narrow or thin | Cortex and medullary rays |
H. indicus | 1853.75 ± 26.73 (1692.34–1963.24) | Much lignified zone forming a clear dark outer portion | 117.98 ± 5.09efg (97.14–144.03) | Parenchymatous thick zone up to 20 layered, formed of compactly packed cells Calcium oxalate crystals are present in some cells Small secretory canals are present | 44.32 ± 5.42b (24.34–80.76) | 26.97 ± 2.75c (15.10–43.44) | Distinct compact zone | 692.32 ± 25.26d (523.07–801.19) | The major central part formed of xylem fibers Scattered xylem vessels of variable lumen size, present solitary or in groups | 1021.98 ± 18.85 h (947.30–1106.82) | 57.43 ± 8.62 cd (93.84–16.40) | 74.30 ± 2.46e (62–91) | Absent | Narrow or thin | Cortex and medullary rays |
H. pubescens | 1983.01 ± 29.82 (1887.49–2122.16) | Outer thin and lignified layer | 77.25 ± 5.74 fg (56.30–106.14) | Parenchymatous cell zone, up to 15 layered Small secretory canals are present | 43.77 ± 3.72b (27.80–56.96) | 32.57 ± 2.41c (18.82–42.61) | Distinct compact zone | 570.17 ± 11.58ef (531.92–648.09) | Major fibrillar zone Several scattered vessels, uniformly distributed being present in groups and rows | 1716.92 ± 33.29 cd (1449.00–1796.27) | 74.43 ± 7.73bcd (39.66–114.83) | 111.40 ± 2.87 cd (100–132) | Very small pith present | Distinct | Cortex and medullary rays |
I. frutescens | 2704.84 ± 25.91 (2558.15–2814.93) | Thin, compact, and lignified outer portion | 51.59 ± 3.68 g (38.31–68.31) | Up to 25–30 cells layered parenchymatous zone, filled with starch grains, with brown coloured cell contents Small secretory canals are present | 41.93 ± 1.62b (32.33–48.21) | 25.83 ± 1.62c (16.53–34.08) | Distinct phloem rays present | 864.42 ± 22.13c (743.24–958.81) | The major part formed of xylem vessels with the wide lumen and also fibrillar zone Most xylem vessels with a wide lumen present solitary and in groups | 1488.50 ± 14.58def (1432.75–1574.61) | 114.79 ± 20.34ab (33.71–210.02) | 45.90 ± 1.58 g (40–55) | Present | Narrow or thin | Cortex and medullary rays |
M. tenacissima | 2503.47 ± 36.20 (2350.96–2669.68) | Present in broken patches with cork layers less distinguishable. Few outer cork layers with sclereids and lignified patches were observed | 77.27 ± 4.71 fg (60.31–103.13) | Up to 30–40 cell layered parenchymatous zone, cells with starch grains Large sclereids bands are present Compact, small, and deformed secretory canals are present | 53.28 ± 4.42b (41.51–88.53) | 42.24 ± 1.51c (34.19–49.22) | Distinct phloem rays present | 1420.88 ± 20.80a (1315.21–1513.29) | Xylem zone with angular outline present in the center, consisted of xylem fibrillar zone and xylem vessels Uniformly scattered xylem vessels of variable lumen size, present solitary and in groups | 1227.09 ± 85.39fgh (930.92–1665.34) | 90.99 ± 13.47abc (46.91–196.05) | 56.10 ± 1.92 fg (49–71) | Absent | Distinct | Cortex and medullary rays |
N. oleander | 3983.43 ± 38.40 (3794.68–4163.79) | Much lignified broken flaky layers | 170.84 ± 13.87def (111.12–234.03) | Up to 20 cells layered parenchymatous zone formed of compact cells Small secretory canals are present | 49.56 ± 4.76b (26.85–82.15) | 28.18 ± 3.58c (16.80–54.42) | Distinct compact zone present | 420.29 ± 15.83 g (348.69–487.72) | Major fibrillar zone Vessels scattered, with small lumen size and linear arrangement | 3393.11 ± 57.89a (3131.22–3590.64) | 54.92 ± 5.79 cd (29.26–81.55) | 43.80 ± 1.30gh (37–49) | Very small pith present | Narrow or thin | Cortex |
R. serpentina | 1970.86 ± 28.35 (1839.27–2096.41) | Thick zone with rectangular parenchymatous cells | 385.56 ± 30.06b (191.06–485.11) | Up to 20 cells layered cortex zone with compactly packed parenchymatous cells filled with starch grains Small secretory canals are present | 57.55 ± 2.54b (46.25–67.32) | 28.41 ± 1.98c (19.95–42.97) | Thin or less distinct phloem zone | 475.87 ± 12.21 fg (415.2–523.44) | Xylem consisted of numerous uniformly distributed, small-sized xylem vessels present in the xylem fiber zone Xylem vessels present solitary, in groups, and linear arrangement | 1062.98 ± 17.34gh (962.29–1126.20) | 32.02 ± 1.59d (25.47–41.06) | 152.40 ± 1.95b (140–160) | Absent | Distinct | Cortex and medullary rays |
T. divaricata | 2244.62 ± 28.09 (2149.81–2389.04) | Thick zone with compact parenchymatous cells and outer few cells lignified | 209.35 ± 8.83de (156.02–241.22) | Compact parenchymatous cortex zone, up to 20 cell layered Small secretory canals are present | 54.05 ± 7.52b (27.28–104.73) | 24.24 ± 2.79c (11.20–41.54) | A crushed or compact, thin zone | 438.60 ± 24.82 g (312.49–551.08) | Major fibrillar zone Uniformly distributed xylem vessels numerous being present solitary, in groups and a linear arrangement | 1630.97 ± 29.04de (1465.88–1711.92) | 43.28 ± 6.88 cd (20.28–84.19) | 123.50 ± 1.57c (115–131) | Absent | Distinct | Medullary rays |