[Anatomy and adaptation to environment study of endangered alpine medical plant Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora].
OBJECTIVE
To study the anatomical structure of endangered alpine medical plant Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora and the high altitude adaptability.


METHODS
The leaf epidermis character as well as section structure of leaf, aerial stem and rhizome were observed by light microscopical technique.


RESULTS
The leaf surface of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora was covered with two kinds of glandular hair, and the stommata was anomocytic type. Moreover, the leaf was isolateral and differed from most of alpine plant. The aerial stem had well-developed mechanical tissue. The rhizome was distributed by well-developed cork layers and collenchyma. Large numbers of aerenchymas distributed widely in leaf, aerial stem and rhizome.


CONCLUSIONS
There existed characteristic traits in Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora that adapted the alpine environment, however, there still had some particular character different from other alpine plant. Thus, the adaptive style of alpine plant to high altitude environment was diversity.
Liu
Xiao-Li
XL
Department of Chinese Material Medica, Yunnan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China. kmxunzi@yahoo.com.cn
You
Chun
C
Yang
Yao-Wen
YW
Zhang
Lu
L
Qian
Zi-Gang
ZG
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000531:Altitude; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D027343:Rhizome / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D028083:Scrophulariaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure