Soumya Mahabaleshwar Hegde and K. Krishnaswamy
Department of Botany, Kuvempu University, Shimoga-577 201 (Karnataka), India
*(e-mail : soumyamhegade@gmail.com; Mobile : 9513490762)
(Received : June 2, 2021; Accepted : August 11, 2021)
ABSTRACT
During the present study, stomatal length, width, density and index along with epidermal cell length
and cell width of 12 species of terrestrial orchids were measured. Terrestrial orchid species were Geodorum
densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr, Malaxis rheedii B. Heyne ex Wallace, Nervilia crociformis (Zoll. & Moritzi) Seidenf, Nervilia concolor (Blume) Schltr, Habenaria crinifera Lindl., Habenaria longicorniculata J. Graham, Habenraia heyneana Lindl, Habenaria elwessi Hook. f., Habenaria multicaudata Sedgw., Liparis nervosa (Thunb) Lindl, Liparis deflexa Hook. f. and Satyrium nepalensis D. Don, from Shimoga district, Karnataka. In present
study, it was observed that stomata in all the studied species were anemocytic type. The size of stomata
and epidermal cell in all the studied species was small, varying in length. Stomatal activity in orchids
was related to plants adaptation process to their environment. Results showed that highest stomatal
density was observed in H. elwesii and lowest in L. nervosa, highest stomatal index in H. elwesii and
lowest in L. nervosa.
Key words : : Stomatal index, stomatal diversity, terrestrial orchid, Shimoga district