Summary
The roots of Ephedra foliata have a long cap. The root apical meristem can be distinguished into (1) a discrete layer of stelar initials, (2) the columella and its initials, and (3) a common initiating region for the cortex and the peripheral region of the cap. The study of the cell lineages brings out that the first zone and its derivatives show a “Körper” complex of cells, the second and its derivatives divide in a transverse plane, and the third zone exhibits the “Kappe” complex.
This organization resembles the “gymnospermous” type mentioned in the older literature in the discreteness of the “plerome”.
A possible line of evolution of the root apical structures of gymnosperms is suggested.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, G. S.: Embryogeny and the development of the apical meristems of Pseudotsuga. II. Amer. J. Bot. 34, 73–80 (1947a).
—: Embryogeny and the development of the apical meristems of Pseudotsuga. Amer. J. Bot. 34, 204–211 (1947b).
Bary, A. de: Comparative anatomy of the vegetative organs of the phanerogams and ferns. Oxford: Clarendon Press 1884.
Not seen in original Bower, F. O.: The germination and embryogeny of Gnetum gnemon. Quart. J. micr. Sci., N.S., 22 (1882).
Brownlie, G.: Embryogeny of the New Zealand species of the genus Podocarpus, section Eupodocarpus. Phytomorphology 3, 295–306 (1953).
Clowes, F. A. L.: Root apical meristems of Fagus sylvatica. New Phytologist 49, 248–268 (1950).
—: Apical meristems. Oxford: Blackwell Sci. Publ 1961.
Deshpande, B. D., and P. Bhatnagar: Apical meristems of Ephedra foliata. Bot. Gaz. 122, 279–284 (1961).
Esau, K.: The anatomy of seed plants. New York: John Wiley 1960.
Guttenberg, H. v.: Der primäre Bau der Angiospermenwurzel. In: Linsbauer, Handbuch der Pflanzenanatomie. Berlin: Gebrüder Bornträger 1940.
—: Grundzüge der Histogenese höheren Pflanzen. I. Die Angiospermen. In: Linsbauer, Handbuch der Pflanzenanatomie. Berlin: Gebrüder Bornträger 1960.
—: Grundzüge der Histogenese höheren Pflanzen. II. Die Gymnospermen. In: Linsbauer, Handbuch der Pflanzenanatomie. Berlin: Gebrüder Bornträger 1961.
Not seen in original Hanstein, J.: Die Scheitelzellgruppe im Vegetationspunkte der Phanerogamen. Festschr. Niederrhein Ges. Natur und Heilkunde 109–143 (1968).
Janczewski, E.: Recherches sur l'accroissement terminal des racines dans les phanerogames. Ann. Sci. natur. Bot. 20, 162–201 (1874).
Not seen in original Nägeli, C.: Wachstumsgeschichte der Laub- und Lebermoose. Schleiden: In Nägelis Z. für wiss. Bot., H. 2, 138–210 (1845).
Pillai, A.: Root apical organization in gymnosperms.-Some Cycads and Ginkgo biloba. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. B 57, 211–222 (1963).
—: Root apical organization in gymnosperms.-Some conifers. Bull. Torrey bot. Club 91, 1–13 (1964).
Pillai, S. K.: A tentative suggestion on the evolutionary trend in the root apical structures of members of the Scitaminales. Phyton 10, 253–258 (1963).
—, and A. Pillai: Root apical organization in Monocotyledons-Palmae. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. B 54, 218–233 (1961).
—, O. M. George, and P. Vijayalekshmy: Apical organization in the roots of dicotyledons-III. Root apices of some members of the Compositae. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. B 61, 296–308 (1965).
Not seen in original Schacht, H.: Beitrag zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Wurzel. Flora (Jena) 36, 257–266 (1853).
Schopf, M.: The embryology of Larix. Illinois biol. Monogr. 19, 3–97 (1943).
Schüpp, O.: Meristeme. In: Linsbauer, Handbuch der Pflanzenanatomie. Berlin: Gebrüder Bornträger 1926.
Spurr, A. R.: Histogenesis and organization of the embryo of Pinus strobus. Amer. J. Bot. 36, 629–641 (1949).
Strasburger, E.: Die Coniferen und die Gnetaceen. Jena: Hermann Dabis 1872.
—: Die Angiospermen und die Gymnospermen. Jena: Hermann Dabis 1879.
Not seen in original Tieghem, P. van: Recherches sur la symmetrie de structure des plantes vasculaires. Ann. Sci. natur. Bot. 13, 1–314 (1870).
—: Traite de botanique, Paris: Librairie F. Savy 1891.
—, et H. Douliot: Recherches comparatives sur l'origine des members endogenes dans les plantes vasculaires. Ann. Sci. natur. Bot. 8, 1–656 (1888).
Not seen in original Tiegs, E.: Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Entstehung und des Wachsthums der Wurzelhauben einiger Leguminosen. Jb. wiss. Bot. 52, 622–646 (1913).
Not seen in original Voronin, N. S.: Of evoliutsii Kornei restanii — Obshch Isp. prioridy, otd. biol. biul. 61, 47 (1956) [in Russian].
Wilcox, H.: The regeneration of the injured root system in noble fir, Abies procera. Ph. D. Thesis Univ. California 1950.
—: Primary organization of the active and dormant roots of noble fir, Abies procera. Amer. J. Bot. 41, 812–821 (1954).
—: Growth studies of the root of incence ceder, Libocedrus decurrens. Amer. J. Bot. 49, 221–236 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Now the Birla Institute of Technology & Science.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pillai, A. Root apical organization in gymnosperms. Planta 70, 26–33 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539907
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539907