Vellozia teres L. B. Sm. & Ayensu

Vellozia teres L. B. Smith & Ayensu

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—Irwin, Maxwell, and Wasshausen 21000.

SURFACE VIEW.—Hairs: papillae present. Epidermis: cells square to rectangular on both surfaces; thin walled. Stomata: paracytic; 21 × 12 μm; present on abaxial surface.

TRANSVERSE SECTION OF LAMINA.—Dorsiventral; V-shaped with median adaxial groove; margins turned slightly inversely. Adaxial surface slightly undulating; abaxial surface furrowed about one-half thickness of blade. Epidermis: adaxial cells dome shaped to conical, thin walled. Abaxial cells rounded, interspersed with some sclerenchyma strands. Subjacent to adaxial epidermis are one to two layers parenchyma cells interspersed with sclerenchyma strands. Below is a distinct layer of parenchyma cells. Cuticle: thin on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces; ridged. Stomata: present on abaxial furrows; substomatal chamber not observed. Mesophyll: palisade tissue not very distinct, grading into loosely arranged spongy tissue. One to two layers of large translucent cells arranged radially above vascular bundle and furrows. Vascular bundles: 28; no commissural bundles observed. One to two large vessels present in each vascular bundle. Two phloem units arranged laterally in flanges of large U-shaped abaxial girder. Small adaxial cap present on each vascular bundle. A layer of abaxial sclerenchyma band present. Crystals and tannins: none observed.