Análisis de la cutícula foliar de Nothofagus antarctica (Forst.) Oerst

Abstract

The leaf cuticle of Nothofagus antárctica (FORST.) OERST. specimens from 12 different localities within its distribution in Chile have been studied. The observations can be summarized as follows: 1. Epidermal cells polygonal (tetra-penta-hexagonal), with straight walls on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces. 2. Presence of simple unicellular hairs and multicellular glands with variable densities on both surfaces. 3. Leaf hypostomatic, phaneropore. Variable density of stomata. Stomatal complex predominantly actinocytic, in some cases anomocytic. 4. The densities of hairs, stomatal complexs and glands are presented here. 5. The dimensions of the aforementioned structures are presented. 6. A preliminary study was made of the appearance of the different structures when observed with polarized light. The information provides a model of Nothofagus antarctica leaf cuticle that can serve as a frame of reference for further comparative cuticular analyses of taxa, wether fossil or living, of the Fagaceae.