Velamen and exodermis characters of West African epiphytic orchids in relation to taxonomic grouping and habitat tolerance |
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Authors: | WILLIAM W SANFORD FLS ILESANMI ADANLAWO |
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Institution: | Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria |
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Abstract: | The velamen and exodermis of roots of 76 species of epiphytic orchids occurring in West Africa were examined and evaluated for the following characters: number of velamen layers; wall striations and hairs of the velamen; wall thickening and lignification of velamen and exodermal cells; size, and uniformity in shape and size, of velamen and exodermal cells. The term epi-velamen is proposed for the distinctive outermost layer of multi-seriate velamen. High correlation is reported between the number of velamen layers and taxonomic as well as habitat-tolerance groupings, together with lower, but still appreciable, correlation between the other characters evaluated and taxonomic and habitat-tolerance groupings. |
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