The Prevalence of Pores and Canals in Leaf Cuticular Membranes. 2. Supplemental Studies

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Abstract
Evidence is presented for the existence of discrete, natural cuticular pores concomitant with anticlinally-oriented transcuticular canals found in the mature leaf surfaces of 26 out of 37 taxa among 19 families. This investigation is an extension of earlier observations made on 32 other taxa among 14 families. Dewaxed, chemically isolated, adaxial and abaxial cuticular membranes in conjunction with transverse leaf sections were examined using ordinary staining techniques. The ubiquitous pores occur randomly with no evidence of clustering. Pore and canal diameters average approx. 1 μm. Canal lengths are directly related to cuticle thickness. No correlations were found between cuticle thicknesses and either pore frequencies or pore and canal diameters. Evidence is provided by light microscopy photomicrographs.