Anatomy of Desert Halophytic Leaves from Qatar PDF

Keywords

Leaf, desert, Qatar

Abstract

Leaf anatomy of the 10 species of the most common perennial halophytes found in Qatar were investigated, including Aeluropus lagopoides, Anabasis setifera, Avicennia marina, Halopeplis perfoliata, Limonium axillare, Salsola baryosma, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Suaeda vermiculata, Zygophyllum qatarense and Zygophyllum simplex. Most dicot halophytes have leaves of ring-shaped or oval-shaped transverse sections, coated with a layer of cuticle, with one row of epidermal cells. avicennia marina, exceptionally, have multiple epidermal layers. Trichomes were minimal among species, yet, Aeluropus lagopoides and Avicennia marina had an ample amount of trichomes. Palisade tissue is rich with chloroplasts. Intercellular spaces were limited in the palisade and spongy tissues. Spongy tissue was often full of water. Salt crystals were found in the Anabasis setifera and Limonium axillare. Vascular bundles usually occupy the central parts of the succulent leaves, or are distributed across the width of the flattened non-succulent leaves. Vascular bundles are surrounded by bundle sheaths in the monocot Aeluropus lagopoides. Twig anatomy of the green leafless Arthrocnemum glaucum show the presence of well developed chlorenchyma and water storing parenchyma tissues.