Cystoliths and their Taxonomic Importance of Ruellia L. (Acanthaceae) in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Jawaher S Almuteri, Mona S Alwahibi, Ghada M.Al-Shuwaiman

Abstract: This study deals with Ruelliaspp (Acanthaceae) from an anatomical point of view in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, especially the stony cell structures that are composed of vesicles consisting of calcium carbonate, spread on the surface of the leaf in two forms: rounded and elliptic, with the latter differing in the shape of its edges. The spherical shape was recorded in all studied species, while the oval shape was recorded in R. malacosperm, R sp.Jazan, R.sp.Taif.violet, R. patula, and the oval shape with blunt both end was observed only in R. malacosperma, while the oval shape with blunt one end was observed in R.patula, R.sp.Aseer, R.sp.Jazan, R. sp.Taif.white.

Keywords: Ruellia, Acanthaceae, Rounded, Elliptic, Saudi Arabia