WINDOW PATTERNS IN LITHOPS

摘要

Leaves of three Lithops species, Litbops hookeri turbiniformis, Lithops dinteri, and Lithops frederice fulviceps Aurea, were analyzed for types of window patterns. That of L. hookeri turbiniformis is reticulated, with marginally opened polygons that are exactly the same as Voronoi diagrams, objectively defined areas around points in a field of points. The centers of these polygonal areoles are associated with vein endings, and from this association, it was concluded that the latter determines the former. The window pattern of L. dinteri is similar to that of L. hookeri turbiniformis but is far less clear in terms of reticulation. It also has vein endings associated with areole centers. Leaf windows of L. frederice fulviceps Aurea have numerous large single-celled idioblasts instead of reticulation, and they are negatively associated with veins. The role of veins in development is discussed, with special emphasis on forming window patterns described here.