Chapter: Anatomy of Flowering Plants: An Introduction to Structure and Development : Leaf
Sclerenchyma and Idioblasts
Sclerenchyma and Idioblasts
Mesophyll
is often interspersed with sclerenchyma, particularly at leaf margins and
extending as girders from the vascular bundles to the epidermis. Fibres are
typically found in groups associated with the vascular bundles or leaf margins,
but sclereids are normally isolated in the mesophyll. For example, star-shaped
astrosclereids occur in leaves of Nymphaea and petioles of Camellia (Fig. 1.8).
Osteosclereids are characteristic of species with centric leaves, such as
Hakea. In some species sclereids are associated with veinlet endings.
Other
types of idioblast may also be interspersed in the mesophyll. For example,
secretory myrosin cells are often found in the leaves of many Brassicaceae, and
laticifers occur in leaves of angiosperms, especially those of some eudicots
such as Euphorbia and Ficus.
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