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Summary
The paper presents a detailed anatomical description of Ginkgo biloba L. leaf. It was observed that the petiole has a one-layered epidermis, covered by cuticle, a differentiated cortex and a stele represented by four collateral bundles alternating with large secretive ducts. The leaves are bifacial and hypostomatic (sunken stomata) with a homogenous mesophyll. The mesophyll poseesses tanniferous and oxaliferous cells.
Key words: anatomical study, petiole, lamina, Ginkgo biloba
Introduction
Because of its unique position botanists found it difficult to classify the Ginkgo. It has been placed in a separate group in recent years, the division (phylum) Ginlgophyta, order Ginkgoales, Ginkgoaceae family. The only living representative of the order Ginkgoales is the widely-cultivated Chinese Ginkgo biloba L. has an evolutionary lineage that dates back to the Lower Jurassic, about 190 million years ago (Del Tredici, 1989; Taylor & Edith, 1993).
The ancient Ginkgo biloba tree (syn. Salisburia adiantifolia Smith, Pterophyllus salisburiensis, Nelson) is known as maidenhair tree, Ginkgo tree or tree of pagodas. It is much appreciated for hundreds of years in his home country China where growing spontaneously. The plant has been expanding in other countries (including Europe), both for its ornamental appearance as well as for medical purposes. (Marin, 2000; Zaharia, 1998; Web 2).
Ginkgo biloba is a deoecious tree up to height of 20-35 m high, with separate sexes, some trees being female and others being male. Male plants produce small pollen cones with sporophylls, each bearing two spirally arranged microsporangia around a central axis. Female plants do not produce cones. Two ovules are formed at the end of a stalk, and after pollination, one or both develop into seeds. The seed is 1.5- 2 cm long. Its fleshy outer layer (the sarcotesta) is light yellow-brown, soft, and fruit-like (Raven et al., 2005). It is attractive in appearance, but contains butyric acid (also known as butanoic acid) and smells like rancid butter or vomit when fallen (Plotnik, 2000).
The species has fan-shaped petiolate falling leaves with veins radiating out into the...