Soumya Mahabaleshwar Hegde and K. Krishnaswamy
Department of Botany, Kuvempu University, Shimoga-577 201 (Karnataka), India
*(e-mail : soumyamhegade@gmail.com; Mobile : 9513490762)
(Received : December 31, 2020; Accepted : February 20, 2021)
ABSTRACT
The present study analyzed the characteristics in roots of Terrestrial Orchidaceae member i. e. Nervilia aragoana, Nervilia infundibulifolia, Nervilia crociformis and Nervilia plicata for their anatomical characteristics as per ecological point of view. The anatomical characters serve as a tool for the genus systematic. The plants were collected from different regions from Shimoga district including different forest types. Materials were fixed in FAA solution. Transverse sections were obtained by free hand sections to observe the anatomical characteristics in four different species of Nervilia and analyzed for the anatomical adaptations
in different species. The prominent characteristics of the terrestrial Nervilia group presented simple and uniseriate epidermis and endodermis with less developed Casparian strips. Cortex cells had simple parenchymatous filled with mycorrhiza association. Number of vascular cylinders varied among species and xylem phloem were easily distinguishable. Anatomical characters were common in all Nervilia species, though evolved with the number of adaptations to different environmental conditions for survival in different types of vegetation.
Key words : : Orchidaceae, anatomical characters, terrestrial orchids, adaptations