Vol. 8, Issue 6 (2019)

Author(s):
Fouzia Hilal and Soumya Hilal

Abstract:
Mangroves consists of a wide variety of tropical trees or woody shrubs like plants growing at the interface between sea and land (inter-tidal) zone and form a highly productive and ecologically important ecosystem. Aim of the current work is to study various morphological and anatomical adaptations exhibited by two mangroves such as Acanthus ilicifolius L. and Excoecaria agallocha L. selected from Ayiramthengu of Kollam District, Kerala. The study revealed that the plants growing in salt marshes of Ayiramthengu developed a number of adaptations to survive in the physiologically dry habitat. Major structural adaptations observed among these plants include, stilt roots, knee roots, thick leaves, persistent calyx, salt glands, milky latex etc. The anatomy of leaves showed xerophytic characteristics such as presence of highly cuticularized epidermis, sunken stomata, mucilaginous cells and collenchymatous hypodermis. Anatomical studies on stem shows the presence of lignified cells in cortex and pith, deposition of tannins and oils that are highly adapted from desiccation of tissues due to insolation. From the study it was clear that the morphological and anatomical adaptations to local conditions may allow the trees to maximize its photosynthetic efficiency.