Abstract
The micromorphological structure of seedlings of Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. is described, from a dry ruderalized site of Karachi, on the basis of optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The seedling appeared to be “PhanerocotylarEpigeal-foliaceous” type. Several types of trichomes from cotyledons and leaves and structure of the resin gland (Brown-orange bulky capitate, glandular trichome) are described. Cotyledons are amphitrichomic and amphistomatic with paracytic arrangement of subsidiary cell. R. minima leaflets were amphistomatic with much larger number of stomata on ventral surface (283.3 ± 4.39 stomata per mm2 , N = 100, CV = 38.6%) as compared to the dorsal surface (48.06 ± 1.85 stomata per mm2 , N = 100, CV = 38.6%). The diversity of foliar stomata included, paracytic, anisocytic, staurocytic and anomocytic types. The stomatal size on abaxial surface leaf averaged to 18.53 ± 0.36 x 13.17 ± 0.30 µm. The predominating class of stomatal width (pore + guard cells) was 10.1 – 16 µm. Stomata on adaxial surface were comparable in size (19.76 ± 0.22 x 11.19 ± 0.18 µm). Quantitative element analysis based on elements detector system (EDS) of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is described.
