Ontogeny of the mucilage ducts of Polygala angulata DC. (Polygalaceae)

AGUIAR-DIAS, A. C. A. (Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil), CARDOSO-GUSTAVSON, P. (Instituto de Botanica de Sao Paulo, 04301-902, SP, Brazil), Ontogeny of the mucilage ducts of Polygala angulata DC. (Polygalaceae). J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 138: 255-261. 2011.-The present study describes the occurrence of mucilage ducts within Polygalaceae. Polygala angulata DC. is a species from the Brazilian cerrado that possesses secretory ducts in the stem angles of primary growth. First, a schizogeneous process and later, a lytic process both take place in the course of secretory duct formation, characterizing the development of the glands as schizolysigenous. Histochemical tests confirm the mucilage nature of the exudate. The presumable functions of this gland are associated with xeromorphic adaptation of this species to the cerrado environment.