Annals of R.S.C.B., Vol. XIX, Issue 1, 2014, pp.

33 - 36
Received 22 October 2014; accepted 13 November 2014.

doi: 10.ANN/RSCB-2014-0002:RSCB

Anatomical study of Ficus carica L. leaf

R. BERCU (1), D. R. POPOVICIU (1)*
1
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Ovidius University, Constana, Romania
*Corresponding author
Dan Rzvan Popoviciu, Ph.D.
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Ovidius University,
Campus, Aleea Universitii, nr. 1, Corp B, 900 525, Constana, Romania
Phone: +40(0)761.178.785, e-mail: dr_popoviciu@yahoo.com

Keywords. Anatomical study, leaf, laticifers, cystolith, Ficus carica.

Summary

carica L. (known as fig tree) is a shrub native

to the Mediterranean, less resistant to frost
and heliophyll. He was first cultivated by the
inhabitants of South Arabia. Large areas are
cultivated in the Mediterranean countries
(Minor or Central Asia) and in California
(USA). The fig tree - Ficus carica - has large,
alternate leaves (10-20 cm, palmately lobed
with 3-5 lobes deeply toothed edges. The
leaves are hairy on the underside (Fig. 3).
Fruit is a synconium - is pyriform fleshy,
solitary, 5-8 cm long, very sweet and tasty.In
the literature there is little information on the
leaf anatomy of the species considered. Data
on the structure of the leaf of a number of
species Ficus of Nigeria, where found in the
study by Sonibare et al. (2006) of which F.
elastica and F. lyrata. Ficus maroma leaf
structure belongs to Cabrera et al (2009).
Some studies relate the presence of the
laticifers elements and chemical analysis of
the latex found in some Ficus species belong
to Ali et al. (2012), Lazreg-Aref et al., (2012)
and Metcalfe & Chalk (1983).Romanian
studies on the structure of the leaf lamina,
with special reference to the presence of
cystoliths and laticifers in F. elastica and F.
carica occur sporadically in some textbooks
of Morphology and anatomy of plants (Andrei
& Predan, 2001; erbnescu & Toma, 1980;
Tarnavschi et al., 1974). A morphometrical
study of some species of Ficus leaves belongs
to Bercu & Bavaru (2003).
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the
anatomical features of Ficus carica leaf and

The paper presents an anatomical study

concerning the leaf structure (petiole and
blade) of a well known Ficus species, Ficus
carica L. The petiole consists of epidermis, a
differentiated cortex and the conductive tissue
represented by two rings one of phloem and
other of xylem elements. The bifacial blade
has a heterogeneous and hipostomatic
mesophyll and possesses a fascicular vascular
system. The upper epidermis is followed by a
one-layered hypodermis with lithocysts and
cystoliths. Lithocysts and cystoliths sizes
were measured as well. Anomocytic stomata
and
simple
one-celled
non-glandular
trichomes are present in the petiole and blade
as well. Remarkable is the presence of the
medullar leptocentric vascular bundles,
laticifers and druses in the petiole and mid rib
structure. The thick cuticle thicknesses, the
lignifications, a multiple epidermis, the
presence of hypodermis are probably
anatomical features of adaptation to
xerophytic environments.
Introduction
Ficus species are trees or shrubs belonging to
the Moraceae family. This genus includes
about 2000 species originating in tropical
regions of America, Asia, Africa and
Australia. In cold and temperate regions are
grown as houseplants (Preda, 1979). Ficus

The Romanian Society for Cell Biology , Annals of R. S. C. B., Vol. XIX, Issue 1, 2014, Dan Rzvan Popoviciu, pp. 33 - 36

33

Annals of R.S.C.B., Vol. XIX, Issue 1, 2014, pp. 33 - 36

Received 22 October 2014; accepted 13 November 2014.

doi: 10.ANN/RSCB-2014-0002:RSCB

to contribute with more information to the

knowledge concerning this species.
Materials and methods
The plant leaves were collected form S.C.
Bricostore Romania S.A., Constantza. Small
pieces of petiole and blade were fixed in FAA
(formalin: glacial acetic acid: alcohol 5:5:90).
Cross sections of the petiole and blade were
performed by the freehand made technique
(Andrei &Predan, 2001). The samples were
stained with alum-carmine and iodine green.
Anatomical observations and micrographs
were performed with a BIOROMT bright
field microscope, equipped with a TOPICA
6001A video camera.

Fig. 1. Cross section og the petiole - ensamble: btbasic tissue, c- cortex, e- epidermis, lb- leptocentric
bundle, t- trichome, vb- vascular bundle.

The vascular system is represented by two

rings - one phloem and the other xylem. Some
of the xylem vessels are rounded and have
primary origin embedded into a celulosic
parenchyma whereas other others larger have secondary origin, separated by one, two
or three seriate homogrnous lignified, pith
rays. Few xylem parenchyma elements occur,
especialy in the peripheral aria of the phloem
ring. The phloem is less developed than
xylem and consists of phloem vessels,
companion cells and phloem parenchyma
(Fig. 2, A, B). Rare isolated lignified
elements occur. In the inner basic parenchyma
6 apparently medullary leptocentric bundles
are present (Fig. 1).

Results and discussions

Cross section of Ficus carica petiole has a
slightly sinuous circular shape (Fig. 1). On
the exterior, the petiole is protected by a
single layer of epidermis, consisting of small
cells with rounded shape, which thickened
lateral walls, whereas the external walls on
the outside are covered by a thick cuticle.
From place to place, the epidermis presents
rare short or long simple unicellular and nonglandular trichomes.
Just below the epidermis is the cortex
differentiated into two regions. The external
zone is represented by a collenchyma (7-8 cell
layers), followed by the inner one
parenchymaous in nature, consisting of 9-10
cell layers. A number of parenchyma cells are
oxaliferous - druses - calcium oxalate crystals.
In the cortex numerous non-articulated
laticifers occur (Figs. 1, 2, A).

Fig. 2. Cross section of the petiole. Portion with

epidermis and cortex (A, x ). A vascular bundle (B, x

The Romanian Society for Cell Biology , Annals of R. S. C. B., Vol. XIX, Issue 1, 2014, Dan Rzvan Popoviciu, pp. 33 - 36

34

Annals of R.S.C.B., Vol. XIX, Issue 1, 2014, pp. 33 - 36

Received 22 October 2014; accepted 13 November 2014.

doi: 10.ANN/RSCB-2014-0002:RSCB

280): co- collenchyma, d- druse, l- laticifer, pcparenchyma cortex, ph- phloem, t- trichome, x- xylem.

Cross section of the bifacial blade reveals a

multiple upper epidermis, the mesophyll and
the lower epidermis. There is a multiple upper
epidermis a one-layered hypodermis with
protodermal origin. The one-layered upper
epidermis is covered by an obvious outward
cuticle. The upper epidermal cells are reduced
in the mid rib zone. The upper epidermis
continuity is interrupted by non-glandular
similar to those of the petiole. The same type
of trichomes found in the petiole are longer
and denser in the mid rib aria than in the rest
of the blade. The hypodermis consists of large
more or less different in size cells. In between
the hypodermal cells a number of lithocysts
(giant epidermis cell that protrudes into the
mesophyll) are present. The lithocysts have
391 m medium lenght and 342 m width.
The lithocysts possess calcium oxalate
deposes solitary stalk cystoliths (Fig, 4, A).
They have a grape cluster shape with 456 m
in length. Contrary to Tarnavschi et al (1974),
the cystoliths are presented adjacent to the
adaxial epidermis layer, not abaxial.
However, the Ficus carica leaf may be
included, such other species of Ficus (F.
annulata, F. benghalensis, F. superba, F.
elastica), in group 1, by cystolith position
classification of Ummu-Hani and Noraiani
(2013). The mesophyll has and 436 m
medium thickness and is differentiated
into two layers of palisade tissue with
numerous chloroplasts and 7-8 layers of
spongy tissue with well aligned cells and few
chloroplasts. The first layer of palisade tissue
is longer than the second one and has both
layers totals 371 m (Fig. 4, A).

Fig. 3. Cross section of the blade in the mid rib area

ensamble (x 100): co- collenchyma, le- lower
epidermis, ms- mesophyll, t- trichomes, ue- upper
epidermis, vb- vascular bundles.

Fig. 4. Cross section of the blade with cystolith (A, x ).

Portion of the mid rib with upper epidermis (B, x ) cocollenchyma, cu- cuticle, cy- cistolith, h- hypodermis,
le- lower epidermis, pt- palisade tissue, sp- spongy
tissue, ue- upper epidermis.

The mid rib is very prominent on the lower

surface of the blade, and less at the upper one.
The mid rib is fascicular in type consisted of a
large arched bundle more or less V- shaped in
abaxial position, arch I (Tomlinson, 1956),
such as Sonibare et al. (2006) found in some
Ficus species leaves of Nigeria. Each vascular
bundle have a simillar structure with those of
the petiole but with foliar arrangement of the
conductive tissues. Loosely arranged layers of
parenchyma cells without chloroplasts
surround the vascular bundle. Fiber cells form
adaxial caps only. Central, 7-8 apparently
leptocentric bundles are present. Laticifers
and druses are present as well (Fig. 3).

The Romanian Society for Cell Biology , Annals of R. S. C. B., Vol. XIX, Issue 1, 2014, Dan Rzvan Popoviciu, pp. 33 - 36

35

Annals of R.S.C.B., Vol. XIX, Issue 1, 2014, pp. 33 - 36

Received 22 October 2014; accepted 13 November 2014.

doi: 10.ANN/RSCB-2014-0002:RSCB

Between the two epidermises and the mid rib

is an angular collenchyma more developed
adaxial (Fig. 4, B).
The lower epidermis consists of
rectangular cells covered by cuticle which is
thinner than those of the upper epidermis.
Hypodermis is absent. Stomata are present in
between the lower epidermal cells only
hipostomatic blade.
Paradermal sections of the lower epidermis
disclose epidermal cells with undulate walls
and anomocytic stomata type with 456 m
medium length of no taxonomic value (Fig. 5)
(Dilcher, 1974). It was calculated the stomatal
density 116.828 stomate/mm2. The stomatal
index ranges 0.133 m-0.15 m with SD
2.67 m.

bundles, laticifers and druses in the petiole

and mid rib structure.
The anatomical features highlighted in this
paper make these species of Ficus adaptable
for the semi-arid and arid regions.
References
Ali, B.; Mujeeb, M.; Aeri, V., Mir, S. R.; Faiyazuddin,
M.; Shakeel, F., 2012, Anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant activity of Ficus carica Linn. Leaves,
Nat. Prod. Res. 26 (5): 460-465.
Andrei, M., Predan G. M. I., 2001, Practicum de
morfologia i anatomia plantelor, Ed. Stiinelor
Agricole, Bucureti.
Bercu, R.; Bavaru, E., 2003, Morphological and
morphometrical characterisation of some Ficus L.
species leaf, Analele Universitii Ovidius, Seria:
Biologie-Ecologie,vol. 7: 9-16.
Dilcher, D.L., 1974, Approaches to the identification of
angiosperms leaf remains. Bot. Rev. (New York),
40 (1):1-157.
Lazreg-Aref, H.; Mars, M.; Fekih, A.; Aouni, M., Said,
K., 2012, Chemical composition and antibacterial
activity of a hexane extract of Tunisian Capri fig
latex from the unripe fruit of Ficus carica, Pharm.
Biol., 50(4): 407-412.
Metcalfe, C.R.; Chalk, L., 1983. Secretory structures:
Cells, cavities and canals, In: Anatomy of the
dicotyledons. Vol II. Wood structure and
conclusions of the general introduction, p. 7081,
Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Sonibare, M., A.; Jayeola, A. A.; Egunyomi, A., 2006.
Comparative Leaf Anatomy of Ficus Linn. Species
(Moraceae) from Nigeria, Journal of Applied
Sciences, 6(15):3016-3025.
Tarnavschi, T. I.; erbnescu-Jitariu, G.; RdulescuMitroiu, N., Rdulescu D., 1974, Practicum de
morfologie i anatomie vegetal, Ed. Tipografia
Universitatii Bucureti, Bucureti.
Tomlinson, P.B, 1956. Studies in the systematic
anatomy of the Zingiberaceae, J. Linn. Soc. Bot.,
55: 547-592.
Ummu-Hani, B.; Noraini T., 2013, The structure of
cystoliths in selected taxa of the genus Ficus L.
(Moraceae) in Peninsular Malaysia, AIP
Conference Proceedings, Volume 1571, Issue 1,
p.372-376

Fig. 5. Paradermal section of the lower epidermis: ecepidermal cell, s- stoma, sc- subsidiary cell.

Conclusions
The petiole consists of epidermis, a
differentiated cortex and the conductive tissue
represented by two rings one phloem and
other xylem. The bifacial blade has a
heterogeneous and hipostomatic mesophyll
with a fascicular type of the vascular system.
Anomocytic stomata and simple one-celled
non-glandular trichomes are present in the
petiole and blade as well. Remarkable is the
presence of the medullar leptocentric vascular

The Romanian Society for Cell Biology , Annals of R. S. C. B., Vol. XIX, Issue 1, 2014, Dan Rzvan Popoviciu, pp. 33 - 36

36