EPIDERMAL STRUCTURE, STOMATAL TYPE AND FREQUENCY IN SOME MEMBERS OF AMARANTHACEAE AND COMPOSITAE FROM SUN AND SHADED HABITAT

The structure of stomata, hairs and stomatal frequency are described in three and two species of Amaranthaceae and Compositae respectively. The most frequent type is anomocytic and anisocytic in all species except in Alternanthera sessilis in which it is diacytic. Abnormal stomata with a single guard cell, aborted guard cells have also been observed except Eclipta prostrata. Low frequency of stomata was observed in the leaves of shaded habitat plants. Stomatal breadth was significantly higher in the leaves of sun habitat than those of shaded one.