Anatomia foliar e análise histoquímica e quantitativa das fibras de mauritiella armata (mart.) burret.

Abstract

As part of the project: "Anatomical and quantitative studies of fibers of vegetative organs of native Amazonian palm trees", we have the species Mauritiella armata (Mart.) Burret. The part used by regional craftsmen is the petiole for the manufacture of boats and the frame of cages. The leaf is amphistomatic, the stomata cells are surrounded by 2 pairs of subsidiary cells, parallel to the stomata and a pair at each end of the stomata. The mesophyll is dorsiventral, bounded by adaxial and abaxial epidermis, followed respectively by a hypodermis interrupted by fiber nests. There are several vascular bundles in the central vein of the leaflet totally involved by a sclerenchymatic sheath; the palisade parenchyma is formed of 2 layers and the lacunose parenchyma of several layers with some crystalliferous idioblasts. In the petiole there are several bundles dispersed in the fundamental parenchyma, occurring a concentration of fibers near the epidermis; the bundles are collateral surrounded by several layers of fibrous cells. The fibers are elongated with rhombic ends and reacted positively to the lignin tests. Leaf fiber lengths range from 650-1735mm and petiole fiber lengths from 505-1920mm.