Stratification of tropical forests as seen in leaf structure

1. Introduction.- 2. Source of the Material and Sample Collection.- 3. Preparation of Slides.- 4. General Observations.- Leaf morphology.- Drip tip - Pulvini - Leaf size - Leaf shape - Juvenile and adult leaf forms - Venation.- Innter leaf structure.- Xero-, meso-, hygromorphy, and sun-, medium-, shade-leaf, alternatively - Leaf consistency - Structural peculiarities.- Structure in relation to function.- 5. Tables of the Families Studied Indicating Structural Characteristics.- Annonaceae - Capparidaceae - Violaceae - Flacourtiaceae - Vochysiaceae - Guttiferae - Quiinaceae - Sterculiaceae - Tiliaceae - Elaeocarpaceae - Humiriaceae - Malpighiaceae - Rutaceae - Simaroubaceae - Ochnaceae - Burseraceae - Meliaceae - Dichapetalaceae - Olacaceae - Opiliaceae - Celastraceae - Sapindaceae - Sabiaceae - Anacardiaceae - Mimosaceae - Caesalpiniaceae -Papilionaceae - Rosaceae - Combretaceae - Myrtaceae - Lecythidaceae - Melastomaceae - Araliaceae - Rubiaceae - Sapotaceae - Ebenaceae - Apocynaceae - Boraginaceae - Solanaceae - Bignoniaceae - Verbenaceae -.- Nyctaginaceae - Polygonaceae - Myristicaceae - Lauraceae - Euphorbiaceae - Moraceae - Lacistemaceae - Unidentified (Nigua).- 6. Description of the Families Studied Concerning Leaf Structure.- Annonaceae - Capparidaceae - Violaceae - Flacourtiaceae - Vochysiaceae - Guttiferae - Sterculiaceae - Tiliaceae - Elaeocarpaceae - Malpighiaceae - Rutaceae - Simaroubaceae - Ochnaceae - Burseraceae - Meliaceae - Dichapetalaceae - Opiliaceae - Celastraceae - Sapindaceae - Sabiaceae - Anacardiaceae - Mimosaceae - Caesalpiniaceae - Papilionaceae - Rosaceae - Combretaceae - Myrtaceae - Lecythidaceae - Melastomaceae - Rubiaceae - Sapotaceae - Ebenaceae - Apocynaceae - Boraginaceae - Solanaceae - Bignoniaceae - Verbenaceae - Nyctaginaceae - Polygonaceae - Myristicaceae - Lauraceae - Euphorbiaceae - Moraceae - Lacistemaceae.- 7. Developmental Aspects.- Development of crypts and “cornets” around the stomata - Formation of cork warts - Origin of the oblique position of palisade cells.- 8. Ecological Aspects.- Xeromorphy, succulence, and hygromorphy.- Criteria of xeromorphy - Criteria of hygromorphy.- Sun and shade leaf type.- Criteria of the sun leaf type - Criteria of the shade leaf type.- The significance of the different structural features and their ecological importance.- Blade thickness - Number of layers of the upper epidermis - Waxy layers - Cuticle - Thickness of the outer wall of the upper epidermis - Cell size of the upper epidermis, as seen in transection - Cell size and form of the upper and lower epidermis, as seen in surface view - Number of palisade layers - Length of palisade cells - Length/width index of the palisade cells - Index palisade parenchyma/spongy parenchyma - Stomate density - Stomata length - Level of stoma formation - Hair density - Papillas, wall excrescences and surface sculpturing - Density of vascular bundles - Secretory cells - Secretory canals or cavities - Upper and lower hypodermis - Sclereids - Glands - Slimy walls - Stomata in the upper epidermis - Upper epidermis as a water reservoir - Xero-, meso-, hygromorphic leaves and sun and shade leaf type.- The progressive transformation of the hygromorphic shade leaf into the xeromorphic sun leaf.- Blade size and shape - Blade thickness - Width of outer wall of the upper epidermis - Upper epidermis as a water- storing tissue - Number of epidermis layers - Formation of a (upper or lower) hypodermis - Number of palisade layers - Length of paisade cells - Length/width index of the palisade cells - Chloroplasts - Proportions between palisade and spongy parenchyma - Stomata size and density - Level of stoma formation - Development of “cornets” and crypts - Hair density - Papillas, wall excrescences and surface sculpturing - Density of vascular bundles - Xero-, meso-, hygromorphic leaves - Sun and shade leaf type - The increasing width of the leathery leaf - Comparison of juvenile and adult leaves.- Comparison with the cloud forest - The leathery leaf - Environmental conditions.- Soil - Water supply - Illumination - Temperature.- 9. Taxonomical Aspects.- 10. Phylogenetic Aspects.- 11. Discussion of the Most Important Results.- 12. Figures to the Text.- 13. Bibliography.- 14. Index of Scientific Plant Names.- 15. Index of vernacular plant names.- 16. General Index.