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Anomocytic Stomata

Definition

A stomatal type where the guard cells are surrounded by ordinary epidermal cells with no defined subsidiary cells. Found in Erythroxylum and useful in epidermal peel preparations for leaf identification.

Defining trait
No differentiated subsidiary cells around guard cells
Also called
Ranunculaceous type
Found in
Erythroxylum (coca) and other plant families
Used in
Epidermal peel microscopy for leaf identification

Common questions

Why does stomatal type matter for identifying controlled plant material?+

When a seized sample is fragmented, dried or powdered and lacks obvious morphology, the epidermal cell and stomatal pattern surviving in a peel preparation can still place the material within its family or genus under a microscope.

What distinguishes anomocytic stomata from other stomatal classification types?+

Other types such as paracytic or diacytic stomata have one or more subsidiary cells with a distinct shape or orientation next to the guard cells, whereas anomocytic stomata are surrounded only by ordinary, undifferentiated epidermal cells.

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