Comparative anatomical characters of Periplocaceae follicles and their taxonomic significance

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Abstract
The fruits of Cryptolepis buchanani and Hemidesmus indicus are follicles. The fruit wall or the pericarp is distinguished into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp. Epicarp is multilayered in both the fruits, composed of an epidermal layer and a collenchymatous zone of hypodermis. In H. indicus the collenchymatous zone is filled with tanniniferous contents. The mesocarp is parenchymatous. Vascular bundles are found overarched by cellulosic fibre bundles. Laticifers present in the mesocarp are non‐articulated. The lignified fibrous endocarp of Cryptolepis is thicker and harder than that of Hemidesmus. The follicles dehisce marginicidally. The pericarp anatomy of these two genera are compared with that of Cryptostegia grandiflora and a taxonomic key is also added to delineate these three genera.