This volume treats the microscopic anatomy of vegetative organs of two monocotyledonous flowering plant families. Observations are included for Acorus, sole genus of Acoraceae, and nearly all of the 106 genera of the family Araceae, now including the duckweeds as the subfamily Lemnoideae.
The introduction reviews all aspects of morphology and anatomy of the families and a variety of other topics including biogeography, the paleobotanical record, economic uses, chemistry and toxic properties. Highlights of the vegetative anatomical literature are reviewed from about 1000 references...

Despite its significance in the reproductive cycle of flowering plants, and its importance in helping to interpret plant evolution, the stamen, and its fertile, pollen bearing part, the anther, have received relatively little scientific attention. To address this shortcoming, the contributors in this volume give an indication of the kinds of studies now being undertaken with a view to stimulating further work on this neglected plant organ. Traditional and current concepts of stamen construction, terminology and function are summarized, and an extensive bibliography gives access to relevant...