VARIATION OF STOMATAL DISTRIBUTION IN CAREX AQUATILIS (CYPERACEAE)

• Published in: American Journal of Botany
• Main Author: Standley, Lisa A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1986
• Subjects: Pacific; Carex aquatilis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1986.tb10884.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fj.1537-2197.1986.tb10884.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1986.tb10884.x

The density and distribution of stomates in Carex aquatilis Wahl. in the Pacific Northwest were examined using epidermal peels of samples of leaves from natural populations, from greenhouse‐grown transplants and from seedling families grown under controlled conditions. These were compared to stomatal distributions of populations in eastern North America. Populations of Carex aquatilis Wahl. form 2 groups based on the distribution and density of stomates. Carex aquatilis var. dives (Holm) Kükenthal is epistomatic, with adaxial stomatal densities of 28.7–48.5/0.1 mm 2 . The C. aquatilis var. aquatilis is amphistomatic, with adaxial stomatal densities of 8.1–22.2/0.1 mm 2 and abaxial densities of 11.3–24.5/0.1 mm 2 in the Pacific Northwest. Total stomatal frequencies are similar in both groups. Stomatal distribution and densities are here shown to not vary significantly within populations and appear to be genetically determined, as shown by progeny tests and growth of seedlings under uniform and experimental conditions. Stomatal distribution in Carex aquatilis appears to be adaptive, and intraspecific variation provides a system for determining the adaptive significance of differences in stomatal patterns.