Development of vascular cambium in the leaf rachis of Kigelia Africana (Lam.) Benth

• The structural changes during the vascular cambium development from procambium in the leaf rachis of Kigelia africana bearing leaflets of different developmental stages (young, mature and old rachis) were investigated. The different regions from the internodes of rachis bearing young, copper brown coloured leaves revealed the sequential stages of cambial development. Terminal region of the rachis showed developing procambium along with protoxylem and protopholem derivatives, middle regions exhibited the development of interfascicular cambium whereas basal region showed complete ring of vascular cambium with secondary phloem derivatives. Rachis bearing brownish coloured leaflets showed an active cambium with both secondary xylem and phloem derivatives indicating bidirectional cambial growth. Rachis with fully matured dark green leaflets was characterized by the presence of dormant cambium surrounded by mature xylem and phloem elements and occurrence of calcium oxalate crystals in the phloem parenchyma cells. The study also describes the pattern of vascular cambial development in the leaf rachis of Kigelia, a deciduous tree and it was compared with development of vascular cambium in the leaves of conifers and evergreen dicotyledons. Influence of leaf maturity on cambial activity and secondary xylem development is discussed.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Botanik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Botany (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Vascular cambium development

leaf rachis

Kigelia africana

pattern of secondary growth

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)