%0 Journal Article
%T Leaf Epidermal Micromorphology of Portulaca L. Species Found in Vadodara, Gujarat, India
%A Archana Srivastava
%A Aruna Girish Joshi
%A Vinay Madhukar Raole
%J Journal of Botany
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/368238
%X Micromorphology of three species of Portulaca was carried out with the help of light microscopy to determine variations within the species which would aid in correct identification of the plants. Epidermal cells are polygonal with sinuous anticlinal walls in all the three species. Length of epidermal cells of P. grandiflora Hook. is higher than P. oleracea Linn. and P. quadrifida Linn. The leaves of P. quadrifida are epistomatic while the remaining species are amphistomatic with paracytic stomata in all the three species. Mean stomatal index and stomatal frequency are more in P. quadrifida while the mean size of stomata (both length and width) is larger in P. grandiflora for both adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Based on the diagnostic features, an artificial indented key is prepared. 1. Introduction The members of the family Portulacaceae are cosmopolitan generally herbs and shrubs with 15¨C30 genera and 500 species [1]. According to Geesink [2], Portulaca Linn is divided into two subgenera: subgenera Portulacella (F. Muell.) Legrand with glabrous nodes and flowers in dichasia and subgenera Portulaca with nodal scales or hairs and terminal flowers. The presently studied species belong to subgenera Portulaca. All the three species are recorded from the west of North America, South America, and Africa with some representatives in Europe and Asia [3]. The plants are native to the tropics of the western hemisphere [4]. The species selected for the present study are P. grandiflora, P. oleracea, and P. quadrifida which are suggested in medicine. P. grandiflora is a succulent, prostrate, ascending, pretty herb with subblooming flowers [5], used for the relief of sore throat, skin rashes, and detoxification [6]. P. quadrifida is small succulent with elliptic to ovate leaves. Flowers are yellow, solitary, terminal with conical capsule and minutely tubercle seeds [5]. It is used for various curative purposes such as asthma, cough, urinary discharge, inflammation, ulcers, abdominal complaints, erysipelas, and hemorrhoids [7, 8]. P. oleracea is a succulent, erect herb with oblong ovate or spathulate leaves and cuneate or sessile base. Flowers are yellow with terminal or axillary clusters. Capsule is ovoid with black muriculate seeds. It is antibacterial, -virus, -antherosis, -caducity and enhances immunity. It is also useful in headache, stomachache, painful urination, dysentery, enteritis, astitis, lack of milk flow in nursing mothers, and in postpartum bleeding, inflammation, skin sores, and ulcers. Fresh herb is used as poultice or juice [9, 10] and in unani
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jb/2013/368238/