EPIDERMAL STRUCTURE, ORGANOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND ONTOGENY OF STOMATA IN VEGETATIVE AND FLORAL ORGANS OF STENOGLOTTIS-FIMBRIATA (ORCHIDACEAE)

The epidermal structure and ontogeny of stomata in all vegetative and floral organs of Stenoglottis fimbriata were investigated. Epidermal c ells are polygonal or isobilateral. The leaf sheath, inner whorl of th e perianth, column and tuber are astomatic. Other organs investigated are heterostomatic and of anomocytic origin. The ontogeny of stomata i s perigenous and attention has been paid to various aspects of develop ment. Abnormalities such as degeneration of guard cells, superimposed and juxtaposed contiguous stomata, persistent stomatal cell contiguous with normal stoma, and stoma with persistent intervening wall, were o bserved. Stomatal and epidermal cell frequency, and stomatal index are also tabulated. These characters are of taxonomic importance for the family Orchidaceae.