Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss, a Candidate plant for use in Urban and suburban Areas with Adverse Conditions. An Anatomical and Histochemical Study.

Abstract

Limoniastrum monopetalum L. is an interesting small shrub native to Greece and other Mediterranean countries with an attractive foliage, and blooming in the summer with pink flowers. In this work an anatomical and hystochemical study of the species were carried out in order to investigate the suitability of the L. monopetalum for use in urban and suburban areas as ornamental plan and  its growth in hostile environments such as archeological sites, roof gardens, landscape restoration (e.g. quarries, roadsides, etc.). The results showed that the leaves of L. monopetalum are amphistomatic bifacial with leaf blade approx. 170 μm thick. The  epidermal cells is relatively thick  approx. 20 μm and covered by a 2 μm thick cuticle. Furthermore both surfaces of the leaves are entirely covered by salt crystals secreted by the salt glands, as this is revealed from fresh unprocessed specimens observed with the SEM.The histochemical tests showed the presence of terpenoids in the cell walls of the epidermal cells and in the leaf vascular tissues, phenolics, nitrites and  alkaloids, flavonoids in the mesophyll cells, especially in the vacuoles, and lipids only in the cuticle. Both morphological anatomical and histochemical characteristics of the leaves indicate the xeromorphic character of the species which render L. monopetalum a suitable plant for ornamental use in a wide spectrum of areas with adverse conditions.