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<p>Plant habits are easily recognised not only by morphological aspects but also by a combination of anatomical characteristics, which are essential to understanding the evolution of plant habits in fossils. Hemiepiphytes germinate and grow as epiphytes, subsequently producing roots to connect with the soil. Hemiepiphytic habits can be detected using wood anatomical characteristics. We examined this fact in <i>Ficus</i> that exhibits 60% of its species as hemiepiphytes. Our study compared the wood anatomy of the stem between trees and hemiepiphytes, and between stems and aerial roots of hemiepiphytes. We analysed the anatomy of fossil wood with affinities to <i>Ficus/Ficoxylon</i> and explored possibilities of distinguishing the habit and/or the organ to which the fossil wood of <i>Ficus</i> belongs. The stem and aerial roots of hemiepiphytes were found to have wider vessels and higher hydraulic conductivity than that of trees. Within the hemiepiphytes, the only way to distinguish between the stem and aerial roots is exploring their exarch xylem. Distinguishing the origin of a fossil wood as an aerial root or a stem seemed impossible; however, our anatomical data demonstrate features of fossils shared with more with modern species of hemiepiphytes than with trees.</p>

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Inferring the hemiepiphytic habit of Ficus (Moraceae) through wood anatomical characters in modern and fossil woods

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年2月20日

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  • Camila Monje Dussán,
  • Leandro Cardoso Pederneiras,
  • Veronica Angyalossy

摘要

Plant habits are easily recognised not only by morphological aspects but also by a combination of anatomical characteristics, which are essential to understanding the evolution of plant habits in fossils. Hemiepiphytes germinate and grow as epiphytes, subsequently producing roots to connect with the soil. Hemiepiphytic habits can be detected using wood anatomical characteristics. We examined this fact in Ficus that exhibits 60% of its species as hemiepiphytes. Our study compared the wood anatomy of the stem between trees and hemiepiphytes, and between stems and aerial roots of hemiepiphytes. We analysed the anatomy of fossil wood with affinities to Ficus/Ficoxylon and explored possibilities of distinguishing the habit and/or the organ to which the fossil wood of Ficus belongs. The stem and aerial roots of hemiepiphytes were found to have wider vessels and higher hydraulic conductivity than that of trees. Within the hemiepiphytes, the only way to distinguish between the stem and aerial roots is exploring their exarch xylem. Distinguishing the origin of a fossil wood as an aerial root or a stem seemed impossible; however, our anatomical data demonstrate features of fossils shared with more with modern species of hemiepiphytes than with trees.