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STOMATAL STUDIES OF SOME SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF POLYGONACEAE

ISHFAQ HAMEED, FARRUKH HUSSAIN AND GHULAM DASTAGIR

Abstract: The study reports variation in the structure and distribution of stomata in some members of Polygonaceae viz., Rumex hastatus D. Don, Rumex dentatus Linn, Rumex nepalensis Spreng, Rheum australe D. Don, Persicaria maculosa S.F. Gay and Polygonum plebejum R. Br. The type of stomata, density, frequency, stomatal index, size of stomatal pore (average length and width), size of guard cells (average length and width) and percentage of the close and open stomata were determined. The upper epidermises of the six plants contain anomocytic, paracytic, anisocytic, tetracytic and hemiparacytic stomata while the lower epidermises contain tetracytic, anisocytic, anomocytic and paracytic stomata. The statistical evaluation of the stomata and epidermis included mean, standard deviation, variance, coefficient of variance, standard error and difference of standard error were carried out. The study indicates the taxonomic utility of the stomatal type.

Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan