Abstract

The present research aimed to investigate a possible relationship between rhizome stelar anatomy and current phylogenetic fern classifications. Forty-eight species of Thai ferns belonging to 46 genera in 25 families were collected from the field and their stelar anatomy was investigated using the paraffin method. Haplostele, actinostele, solenostele, dictyostele and arthrostele rhizome types were observed, but these anatomical features appear to be more closely correlated with the traditional morphological classifications, rather than recent molecular phylogenetic ones.

Keyword: Classification, Ferns, Paraffin method, Phloem, Stele, Xylem