| Abstract: | The anatomical structures, especially the type, distribution and arrangement of the constituent elements in the secondary phloem of Euonymus bungeanus Maxim. have been studied. The results showed that the secondary phloem was thicker, consisted of sieve-tube elements, companion ceils ,phloem parenchyma cells ,secretory ceils and rays. Sieve-tube elements, phloem parenchyma cells and secretory cells were alternately arranged in tangential bands, forming a conspicuous zone-like constitution. There was no obvious boundary between the functional phloem and the non-functional phloem. Sieve-tube elements were long, slender cells with very oblique end walls and compound sieve plates. Sieve areas on lateral wall were highly differentiated. Companion cells were triangular in transection and slender in radial section. Mostly,two or three companion cells stayed along with one sieve-tube element. In the functional phloem, phloem parenchyma cells were also slender, containing a few starch grains;but in the nonfunctional phloem they enlarged and contained abundant starch grains. Secretory cells were longer than sieve-tube elements, consisting of rubber-like material. Rays were uniseriate. Finally, the authors also discussed the phylogenetic position of E. bungeanus, which may provide some references for further study of the classification of different genera of Celastraceae. |
