Morpho-anatomical characterization of Rhododendron subsessile Rendle,an endangered species of the Cordillera Central Range,Philippines

• 作者: Mabel Grace V.Bitayan Starlee?e S.Cervantes Jones T.Napaldet
• 来源期刊: 林业研究（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2021,（1）
• 所属期刊栏目: ORIGINAL PAPERS
• 页码范围: 241-247
• 页数: 7页
• 语种: 英文

摘要

Conservation of endangered plant species requires a prerequisite basic knowledge of their taxonomy and ecology.Unfortunately in the Cordillera Central Range,several species have not been studied,even though this area harbors a unique type of vegetation not found in other parts of the Philippines.This study documents the morpho-ana-tomical characteristics of Rhododendron subsessile Ren-dle,one of the unique and endangered flora in the area.The species exhibits a morphology typical of plants in high elevations,being a hardy shrub with small tough leaves,and showy pink flowers that rival those of commercial rhodo-dendron species.New findings on the species morphology include a variable number of corolla lobes,stamens and a description of its fruits and seeds.The anatomical features of the species are reported here for the first time.The plant exhibits a typical dicot anatomy with dorsiventral leaves,woody stem and root system with the usual arrangement of periderm followed by secondary phloem,vascular cam-bium,secondary xylem with vessel elements and pith (in the case of the stem).A unique characteristic was identified as the biseriate upper epidermis of the leaf.Documenting the morphological and anatomical features of the species should prove valuable as input baseline information in formulating measures for its conservation.