Studies in the Hypoxidaceae. I. Vegetative morphology and anatomyt

• Main Author: M. F. Thompson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: South African National Biodiversity Institut 1976-11-01
• Series: Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation
• Online Access: https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/1383

The leaf and corm morphology and anatomy of representatives of the genera  Spiloxene, Pauridia and Empodium were studied. The corms are annual and tunicated, except in the group Aquaticae of Spiloxene. They are swollen stems consisting of a number of internodes. In Spiloxene and Pauridia the roots grow from the base of the corm, while in Empodium they develop from the sides. The epidermis of the older corms is replaced by several layers of thin-walled cork. Characters of the corm coverings are used to divide  Spiloxene into six groups. Four leaf forms are recognised namely carinate, terete, canaliculate and plicate. Multicellular processes and unicellular hairs occur occasionally. The leaf stomata are paracytic. Most species have mucilage canals containing pectic compounds of mucopoly­saccharides. The vascular bundles have complete or incomplete bundle sheaths and larger bundles have sclerenchyma caps.