Structure and Development of Stomata in Some Labiatae

The structure and ontogeny of stomata have been studied in 33species of the Labiatae. The mature stomata are diacytic, transitionalbetween paracytic and diacytic, and anomocytic. The anomocyticstomata are haplocheilic or perigenous. The diacytic and thetransitional type of stomata are syndetocheilic or mesogenousas the two subsidiary cells and a pair of guard cells arisefrom the same meristemoid. The diacytic and the transitionalstomata are formed through three successive mitotic divisions.Abnormal stomata with single guard cells, arrested developments,and contiguous stomata have been observed. Contiguous stomataare formed either from two adjacently placed meristemoids orare the result of spatial readjustment during maturation ofthe leaf.