Variation in the structure and development of foliar stomata in the Euphorbiaceae

The structure and ontogeny of foliar stomata were studied in 50 species of 28 genera belonging to 17 tribes of the family Euphorbiaceae. The epidermal cells are either polygonal, trapezoidal, or variously elongated in different directions and diffusely arranged. The epidermal anticlinal walls are either straight, arched or sinuous. The architecture of cuticular striations varies with species. The mature stomata are paracytic (most common), anisocytic, anomocytic and diacytic. Occasionally a stoma may be tetracytic, cyclocytic or with a single subsidiary cell. The ontogeny of paracytic stomata is mesogenous dolabrate or trilabrate, mesoperigenous dolabrate; that of diacytic stomata is mesogenous dolabrate, whereas that of anisocytic stomata is mesogenous trilabrate; rarely an anisocytic stoma may be mesoperigenous. Hemiparacytic stomata are mesoperigenous unilabrate; tetracytic stomata are mesoperigenous dolabrate and anomocytic stomata perigenous. Abnormalities encountered include four types of contiguous stomata, stomata with a single or both guard cells aborted and persistent stomatal initials. Cytoplasmic connections between the guard cells of two adjacent stomata or the guard cell of a stoma and an adjacent epidermal/subsidiary cell, or both types occurring in a species, were noticed. The stomatal development, distribution, diversity and basic stomatal type with reference to systematics are discussed.