Stomata in Heliotropium supinum (dicots)

Heliotropium supinum L. is anamphistomatic, amphitrichomic and xeromorphic species.

The stomata are anomocytic and their distribution is of potato type. The entire aerial surface of the plant is hairy. The frequency of stomata and hairs is high.

The configurations of epidermal cells are straight and highly sinuous on upper and lower surfaces respectively.

The stomatal frequency, absolute stomatal number and stomatal index are higher on the lower surface and significantly vary in plants from different sources.

The variations in stomatal index on either surface are narrow but the ratio of stomatal indices between the two surfaces is uniform, hence it may be used for taxonomic purposes.