Abstract
Smilax subsessiliflora Duhamel, a native Brazilian species, inhabits the Atlantic rain forest, Mesophytic forest and Restinga forest. This study aims to describe the morphoanatomy of the underground system of S. subsessiliflora and compare the results to literature data. The underground system of the analyzed species is composed of the rhizophore, which emits the shoots and adventitious roots. The rhizophore has unistratified epidermis with stomata, cortex with thick lignified cell walls, primary thickening meristem (MEP) and vascular cylinder composed of collateral bundles. In the adventitious roots emitted by the rhizophore, other roots are formed, distinguished by thickness and color. These have external cortex composed by parenchyma and inner cortex (composed of sclereids) that becomes the outermost part after the elimination of the external cortex. The vascular cylinder is polyarch and siphonostelic. Starch grains are present in pericycle and pith. Arbuscular mycorrhizae were detected in the cortex of the lateral roots. The anatomical characters observed in the underground system of S. subsessiliflora are similar to those of the rhizophore of S. quinquenervia.
Key words:
stem; monocotyledons; root; rhizophore; Smilacaceae