Publication: Micro-morphological study of Evolvulus spp. (Convolvulaceae): the old world medicinal plants
Issued Date
2016
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eng
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Mahidol University
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springer Open
Bibliographic Citation
Botanical Studies. Vol.57, (2016), 25
Suggested Citation
Kanapol Ketjarun, Staples, George W., Sasivimon C. Swangpol, Paweena Traiperm Micro-morphological study of Evolvulus spp. (Convolvulaceae): the old world medicinal plants. Botanical Studies. Vol.57, (2016), 25. doi:10.1186/s40529-016-0141-y Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/3133
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Title
Micro-morphological study of Evolvulus spp. (Convolvulaceae): the old world medicinal plants
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Abstract
Background: Several medicinal properties have been reported for plants in the genus Evolvulus, such as a brain tonic
and antifungal from Evolvulus alsinoides, and a sedative and an anthelmintic from Evolvulus nummularius. Therefore,
the correct identification of the source plants is critically important. The aim of this research was to investigate the
micromorphology of two Evolvulus taxa used for herbal medicines compared with one worldwide ornamental species
by using peeling, paraffin embedding, acetolysis, and SEM methods in order to support species identification.
Results: Our findings indicate that all taxa share several common features, such as a single layer of epidermis on both
sides of leaf surfaces, sinuous anticlinal epidermal cell walls, anomocytic, paracytic or laterocytic stomata, and capitate
glandular trichomes. Y-shaped hairs were found in two species but not in E. nummularius. Similarly, isobilateral mesophyll
occurs in both E. alsinoides and Evolvulus glomeratus, but a dorsiventral mesophyll is present in E. nummularius. Stems
consist of a single layer of epidermis, one to four chlorenchyma layers, one to seven layers of cortical cells and a bicollateral
bundle with pith in the center. The seed coat epidermal cell shapes were irregular or polygonal with raised and
undulated anticlinal boundaries, and folded or flattened to concave periclinal walls. Pollens of all taxa are monads, spheroidally
shaped with 28–47 µm diameter, and 15-pantocolpate apertures type with microechinate ornamentation.
Conclusions: An identification key to species is constructed based on leaf anatomy and seed coat characters. This
data can be used in other subjects such as pharmaceutical botany, organic chemistry, taxonomy and horticulture, in
terms of species identification.