Vessel elements of five species of Cyperaceae underground system from Paraiba Caatinga

Abstract

Were analyzed the morphology and length of the vessel members of roots and rhizome of Cyperus uncinulatus Schard ex. Nees, C. schomburgkianus Ness, C. rotundus L., C. ligulatus L. and C. surinamensis Rottb, Cyperaceae from Paraiba Caatinga. The roots present straight vessel members and opposite, altemate and escalariforme pits, simple perforation plates, and transverse and oblique walls in the sarne member. The vessel members of the stern (rhizome) are tortuous or ramified. They show reticulated pits, simple perforation plates, and terminal walls generally oblique. C. surinamensis, C. ligulatus and C. rotundus present larger length and diameters values ofthe roots vessels elements and the rhizomes than C. shomburkianus and C. uncinulatus. The study also revealed that the roots have the longer vessel elements and with larger diameter in relation to the vessel elements ofthe rhizomes.