Figure 3

Cellular micromorphology of Commelina tepals. (A) The adaxial surfaces of Commelina communis inner and outer tepals are characterized by long cells with wavy margins; whilst the abaxial surfaces have cells with straighter edges. The abaxial surfaces of the ventral inner tepal and the outer tepals are similar regarding the presence of stomata, which are absent from the abaxial surface of dorsal inner tepals. (B) Stomata are only found on the abaxial surface of outer tepals from Commelina dianthifolia. (C) Stomata are lacking from the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of both dorsal and ventral inner tepals of Tradescantia pallida. Scale bars denote 50 μm. Arrows indicate closed (C. communis ventral inner tepals), partially closed (C. communis outer tepals), and open stomata (C. dianthifolia outer tepals).