Potential use of members of genus Bougainvillea in alleviating environmental pollutions

Abstract

Background: The present day environment in many urban areas is greatly polluted due to industrialization and over-exploitation of available natural resources. An acceptable way of combating this menace is bioremediation. Objectives: The leaves of five species of genus Bougainvillea, an attractive plant used in landscaping, were studied anatomically in order to document their taxonomic properties and establish their potential in mitigating environmental pollution. Methods: Epidermal peels were made following standard procedure. The epidermal cells – shape and size, anticlinal wall patterns, stomata shape, type and dimension as well as the stomata index of each of the species were studied and documented. Results: The epidermal characteristics of Bougainvillea species show more similarities than differences. All species have polygonal epidermal cells, straight anticlinal walls, elliptic stomata, and stomata complexes that are anisocytic, tetracytic, anomocytic, and heptacytic. They also possess multicellular uniseriate non-glandular trichomes. Hexacytic stomata were observed in all species except B. glabra. Octacytic stomata type was observed only in B. peruviana. The leaves of B. spectabilis and B. peruviana are hypostomatous. Raphides were observed only in B. brasiliensis. Typically, the stomatal index value was higher on the abaxial surfaces compared to the adaxial surfaces, while the stomatal size was lower on the abaxial surfaces than on the adaxial surfaces, except for the two hypostomatic species. Conclusion: The stomata distribution, stomata size and stomata index values observed in the Bougainvillea species established the effectiveness of the plants in transpiration and photosynthesis and also confirm the ability of the plants to help in improving air quality.

Keywords: Bougainvillea, Stomata Index, Pollution, Taxonomy, Stomata Complex