TRACHEARY ELEMENTS AND OCCURRENCE OF VESSELS IN PTERIDOPHYTES I. OPHIOGLOSSACEAE
D. D. PANT *
Botany Department, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211 002, India.
D. R. MISRA *
Botany Department, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211 002, India.
ANIL KUMAR SHUKLA *
Botany Department, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211 002, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The paper gives an account of the tracheary elements in fifteen species of all the three genera of Ophioglossales viz; Botrychium, Ophioglossum and Helminthostachys. Vessels are being reported for the first time in Botrychium daucifolium, B. lanuginosum, Ophioglossum costatum and O. reticulatum, In addition vessels reported earlier in Helminthostachys zeylanica have been subjected to a detailed study. The progymnospermous features of the Ophioglossales and their possible affinities are discussed in the light of their tracheary elements.
Keywords: Vessels, Ophioglossaceae, Tracheary elements