Plant Anatomy: An Applied Approach » (1st Edition)

David F Cutler is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a Visiting Professor in Botany, Reading University, and an Honorary Lecturer, Imperial College, London University. He was formerly Deputy Keeper and Head of the Plant Anatomy Section, Jodrell Laboratory, RBG Kew. He is currently President of the Linnean Society of London. His research is in pure and applied plant anatomy, including systematic anatomy of angiosperms, functional aspects of plant structure and identification of fragmentary plant material.

Ted Botha is Professor of Botany and was Head of Department at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. His research into plant structure and function is recognized internationally as well as locally, by the National Research Foundation. He serves on the organizing committees for several international plant structure–function groups, and is a former President of The South African Association of Botany. His contribution to teaching at Rhodes University was recognized through the award of the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2005.

Dennis Wm Stevenson is currently Rupert Barneby Curator and Vice President for Botanical Science at the New York Botanical Garden. He also serves as editor of the journal Botanical Review, has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers, and edited 11 books ranging from horticulture to paleobotany to genomics. He holds adjunct faculty positions at City University of New York, Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, and Yale University.

This indispensable textbook provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of all aspects of plant anatomy.

• Emphasizes the application of plant anatomy and its relevance to modern botanical research.
• Features expanded treatment on vegetative anatomy and additional material on functional anatomy.
• Includes a CD ROM of high quality photographs and scanning electron microscope images giving students access to the microscopic detail of plant structures essential to gaining a real understanding of the subject.
• Exercises for the laboratory are also included on the CD ROM making this work an indispensable resource for lectures and laboratory classes.

“The book is very attractively priced, benefits from many excellent colour images and extra material on the enclosed CD, and takes a practical hands-on approach that will win many friends. Plant anatomy: an applied approach deserves to do well!” (Annals of Botany, 2008)

A Network version of the Virtual Plant CD-ROM that accompanies the book is available for separate purchase.

To access the artwork from the book, please visit: www.blackwellpublishing.com/cutler.

Preface     ix
Acknowledgements     x
Introduction     1
Morphology and tissue systems: the integrated plant body     4
General background     4
Adaptation to aerial growth     6
The systems in detail     9
Meristems and meristematic growth     14
Introduction     14
Apical meristems     15
Lateral meristems     20
Practical applications and uses of meristems     21
The structure of xylem and phloem     28
Introduction     28
The xylem     28
The phloem     41
Structure-function relationships in primary and secondary vascular tissues     45
The root     48
Introduction     48
Epidermis     48
Cortex     49
Endodermis     51
Pericycle     52
Vascular system     53
Lateral roots     54
The stem     57
Introduction     57
Stems - cross-sectional appearance     59
Transport phloem within the axial system     64
Transport tissue - structural components     66
Concludingremarks     68
The leaf     70
Introduction     70
Leaf structure     74
The epidermis     76
The mesophyll     93
Strengthening systems in the leaf     102
The vascular system     103
The phloem     108
Specifics of the monocotyledonous foliage leaf     111
Secretory structures     118
Concluding remarks     119
Flowers, fruits and seeds     121
Introduction     121
Vascularization     121
SEM studies     123
Palynology     124
Embryology     127
Seed and fruit histology     127
Adaptive features     135
Introduction     135
Mechanical adaptations     135
Adaptations to habitat     137
Xerophytes     139
Mesophytes     147
Hydrophytes     150
Applications     152
Economic aspects of applied plant anatomy     154
Introduction     154
Identification and classification     154
Taxonomic application     155
Medicinal plants      158
Food adulterants and contaminants     159
Animal feeding habits     162
Wood: present day     163
Wood: in archaeology     165
Forensic applications     168
Palaeobotany     169
Postscript     169
Practical microtechnique     170
Safety considerations     170
Materials and methods     170
Microscopy     191
Selected study material     195
Practical exercises     203
Glossary     242
Cited references     280
Further reading     282
Index     287