INTRODUCTION
Synedrella
nodiflora
belong to Asteraceae, it is commonly known as synedrella, starwort or nodeweed (Akobundu
and Agyakwa, 1998). Asteraceae is made of about 25,000 species belonging to
about 1,500 genera (Souza and Lorenzi, 2012). Synedrella nodiflora is usually found growing around houses and
moist, fertile and very illuminous regions (Stone, 1970; Swarbrick, 1997). In
the family Asteraceae, there exist considerable
anatomical diversity which is as a result of their ecological specialization
and these features manifest in their occurrence in diverse habitats as in
presence of secretory structures, varying vascular bundles, secretory cells
directly associated with the phloem, are of great taxonomical interest and
their restricted distribution has an important diagnostic value (Metcalfe and
Chalk, 1950; Fahn, 1979; Solereder, 1908; Makbul et al., 2011). (Ekeke and Mensah, 2016; Noorbakhsh et al., 2008) mentioned differences in
their mid-rib shape used to classify members of the family. There are presence of non-glandular trichomes (Folorunso and Awosode,
2013; Rahman et al., 2013; Mabel et al., 2014). The differentiation of
trichomes is genetically controlled and their frequency affected by
environmental factors, both abiotic and biotic components (Werker, 2000).
The justification is
to add more information to existing knowledge on the taxonomic characteristics
of Synedrella nodiflora. Thus the
objectives: ‘Studies on Morpho-Anatomical characteristics of Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. a member of Asteraceae.’
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
Geographic
Location
The
location of the parent plant studied was Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria.
Morphological
Studies
The meter
rule was used to confirm the plant height, leaf length and width etc.
Micro-morphological
(Epidermal) Studies
Fresh
leaves and young stem collected for this study were peeled and subjected to alcohol
solutions in the ratio of 50%, 75% and absolute alcohol respectively. The
cleared epidermal layers obtained were stained with safranin for 5 minutes
washed and counter stained with Alcian blue for same time interval, washed and
temporarily mounted in aqueous glycerol solution. Photomicrographs were taken
from good preparations. The stomatal index (S.I.) was obtained using the
formula:
Where S
and E are mean numbers of stomata and epidermal cells respectively within
the particular area under investigation. Likewise trichome Index (T.I) was
obtained using:
Where T
and E are trichomes and epidermal cells respectively within the study area.
Anatomical
Study
The plants
were harvested from the wild for the secondary anatomy. The harvested stems,
leaves, petioles, flowers, fruits and roots were dehydrated in alcohol solutions of 50%, 75%, absolute
alcohol and thereafter subjected through alcohol chloroform series in the ratio
of 3:1 of alcohol chloroform series, 1:1, 1:3 and pure chloroform respectively
for five minutes in each. Then rehydrated following same procedure to 50%
alcohol before staining with safranin for 2 to 5 minutes, counter stained with
Alcian blue for same time interval. Free hand section was done using a
systematic arrangement of 5 razor blades as described by Wahua (2020) was also
adopted. Microphotographs were taken from good preparations using Sony camera
of 7.2 Mega pixels having 2.411 LCD monitor and High sensitivity ISO 1250.
RESULT
Geographic
Location Parent Plants
The geographic location of the parent plants
were found and harvested in Community Primary School Choba, Obio-Akpor Local
Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.
MORPHOLOGICAL
STUDY
The morphological features of Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. Revealed yellowish flower florets. Their stems are
erect, sometimes prostrate, branched and hairy. The petiolate leaves are simple
ovate with opposite phyllotaxy having serrated margins measuring up to 13±2cm
long and 8±3cm wide, attaining to about 70±12cm in height for the former. The
inflorescence is made of terminal axillary clusters Plate 1 and 2.
Plate 1: Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaert. 1b and
1c: Tap root system and flower heads of S.
nodiflora
Plate
2: Synedrella nodiflora
Leaf surfaces. 2a
Adaxial (upper leaf) surface. 2b. Abaxial (Lower leaf) surface.
EPIDERMAL
STUDY
Epidermal study revealed anomocytic stomata
which is amphistomatic in nature. Anatomical study showed a layer of epidermal
cells. Plates 3 and 4.
Plate 3: S. nodiflora abaxial foliar
surface
Plate 4: S. nodiflora abaxial
foliar surface
ANATOMICAL
STUDY
The hypodermis which immediately followed
after the epidermal layer is made up of 2 to 3 rolls of collenchyma. The
general cortex comprises 4 to 5 rolls of parenchyma which also predominated the
pith in the same pattern of occurrence in mid-ribs, petioles, stems, nodes and
roots. Vasculation is open type. Plates 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e.
DISCUSSION
Observation
of secretory structures in mid-ribs, petioles and stem with vary vascular structures
and this agrees to the work done by Metcalfe and Chalk, 1950; Fahn, 1979;
Solereder, 1908 and Makbul et al.,
2011). There
are presence of non-glandular trichomes
as also revealed by (Folorunso and Awosode, 2013; Rahman et al. 2013; Mabel et al.
2014). The number of vascular bundles from parent plants harvested from
different distant places may vary to some extent, due to effects of
environmental diversity, this agreed
with the work of Ekeke and Mensah (2016), and Noorbakhsh et al. (2008).
CONCLUSION
Synedrella
nodiflora
is useful in tradomedicine. Karyotypes, quantitative aspect of phytochemistry,
proximate analysis and DNA barcodes may be essential area of future interest.
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