Shoot architecture and growth in the south Florida wet prairie macrophyte, Eleocharis cellulosa

Authors

Shanaz Baksh, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Biology

First Advisor's Name

Jennifer Richards

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Jack Fisher

Third Advisor's Name

David Lee

Keywords

06/28/2005

Date of Defense

2005

Abstract

Eleocharis cellulosa is a dominant macrophyte in Everglades wet prairie communities. The development of the shoot system in the genus has been described as sympodial but with an unusual adnation of the horizontal and vertical shoots. The growth pattern of E. cellulosa was studied from field collected plants and plants grown in the greenhouse. Plants were extracted and measurements of horizontal and vertical shoot were taken. Dissections, paraffin sectioning and SEM's were used to examine shoot structure in early developmental stages. E. cellulosa was transplanted from the field to the greenhouse and different levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorus were added to determine how it responded phenotypically. Dissections and microscopy showed that growth of the vertical shoots of E. cellulosa is sympodial, while growth of the horizontal shoots is mixed, beginning monopodially then transforming to sympodial growth. Additions of nutrients did not have any effect on the morphology of E. cellulosa.

Identifier

FI14050416

Recommended Citation

Baksh, Shanaz, "Shoot architecture and growth in the south Florida wet prairie macrophyte, Eleocharis cellulosa" (2005). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1379.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1379