The purpose of this work was to characterize the leaf anatomy of thirteen Orchidaceae species in a "high altitude grasslands", located at State Park of Serra do Brigadeiro, and identify anatomical characteristics helpful to the interpretation of adaptative strategies of these species. The species studied were all terrestrial plants except Pleurothallis teres Lindl. that occurring on granitic rock living in extremely conditions. Observations made in adaptative anatomic features showed that two different groups can be easily distinguished: perennial species (Epidendrum secundum Jacq., Epidendrum xanthinum Lindl., Oncidium barbaceniae Lindl., Oncidium blancheti Rchb. F., Pleurothallis prolifera Lindl., Pleurothallis teres Lindl., Zygopetalum brackypetalum Lindl. and Zygopetalum mackaii Hook.), and species with reduced aerial parts during drought periods (Cleistes gracilis Schdl., Habenaria hydrophila Barb. Rodr., Habenaria janeirensis Kraenzl, Habenaria macronectar Hoehne and Prescottia montana Barb. Rodr.). The perennial species showed xeromorphic features such as coriaceous or coriaceous-succulent leaves, thick striated cuticle, hypodermis, groups of fibers dispersed into a homogenous mesophyll, aquiferous parenchyma with bars or helical thichenings in the walls, rafid idioblasts and colateral vascular bundles surrounded by groups of fibers. In the species with reduced aerial parts different investments were observed and the xeromorphic features were not stressed. These leaves were thin and showed high adaxial epidermal cells having smooth cuticle and rafid idioblasts present in the mesophyll. No hypodermis was identified and the vascular bundles were reduced without rafid idioblasts with them.
Orchidaceae; anatomy; adaptative strategies; leaf; high altitude grasslands
