Morpho-anatomy of Salvinia molesta

• Main Author: Santos, Sheryll Ann S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1996
• Subjects: Ferns > Anatomy; Botany > Morphology; Plants > Analysis
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1602
• Institution: De La Salle University

Salvinia molesta was collected from a small pond at the Marian Quadrangle of De La Salle University during the months of April 1996 and June 1996. After sectioning and mounting, each part of the plant was then examined under light microscopy. No true roots were found. The leaves were observed to occur in two distinct forms that arose in whorls of three. Two dorsal leaves were floating and a ventral leaf was submerged. The ventral leaf, unlike the dorsal leaf, appeared to be more root-like in appearance than leaf-like. It was divided into numerous filiform segments each covered with numerous hairs. Cross sections of the ventral leaf showed a striking resemblance to the dorsal leaf. Both had epidermal protrusions, a mesophyll composed mainly of spongy parenchyma cells filled with numerous air spaces, absence of a palisade parenchyma layer, and a layer of parenchyma cells that surrounded the vein. The internal characteristics of the ventral leaf showed no similarities to roots. The stem was rhizomatous with numerous fine hairs and a linear outline. Leaf gaps were seen in cross sections and the stele formation was an amphiphloic siphonostele. The sporocarps were borne in chains on long stalks of sori which arose from small segments of the ventral leaf. These sporocarps contained numerous microspores.