Estudos Ecofisiológicos De Orchidaceae Da Amazônia. Ii - Anatomia Ecológica Foliar De Espécies Com Metabolismo Cam De Uma Campina Da Amazônia Central

Abstract

This paper is the second in a series which discusses the leaf anatomy and mode of fixation of C02 in relation to the geographic of Orchidaceae, and specifically describes the occurence of succulence in the species studied, and classifies them according to the anatomical system of WITHNER et al.(1974). The anatomical characteristics which might related to behavioural and/or nutritional sclerophism and CAM photoshyntesis are examined, and these are found to form an adaptative syndrome for the control of water flow through the leaf surface, allowing these species to colonize the drier habitats such as the open campina. Succulence is a characteristic of plants with CAM metabolism, and the leaves were classified as being coriaceous.