LEAF ANATOMY IN SANSEVIERIA (AGAVACEAE).

Area of Science:

• Plant Anatomy
• Botany
• Xerophyte Biology

Background:

• Sansevieria (snake plant) species exhibit diverse leaf morphologies.
• Xeromorphic adaptations are common in arid-adapted plants.
• The internal leaf structure, particularly water-storage tissues, is key to understanding drought tolerance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide the first detailed description of leaf anatomy in the genus Sansevieria.
• To investigate the cellular organization of the central mesophyll water-storage tissue.
• To correlate leaf anatomical features with xeromorphic characteristics and drought tolerance.

Main Methods:

• Microscopic examination of leaf cross-sections from 49 Sansevieria taxa.
• Analysis of leaf form, cuticle thickness, stomatal depth, and fiber development.
• Cellular characterization of chlorenchyma and water-storage tissues, including wall band presence.

Main Results:

• All Sansevieria leaves possess a central water-storage tissue composed of living and dead cells.
• Xeromorphic species show a higher proportion of dead water-storage cells.
• Spiral or reticulate wall bands in water-storage cells were observed in 28 taxa, correlating with increased xeromorphism.

Conclusions:

• The water-storage tissue is a defining anatomical feature of Sansevieria leaves.
• The proportion of dead water-storage cells and the presence of wall bands are indicators of xeromorphic adaptation.
• Wall bands in water-storage cells likely contribute to structural integrity and drought tolerance in Sansevieria.