Morphology, anatomy and mycotrophy of pseudobulb and subterranean organs in Eulophia epidendraea and Malaxis acuminata (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae)

• The morphology, anatomy and mycotrophy in subterranean organs of Eulophia epidendraea and Malaxis acuminata were compared.
• Velamen was present in roots of E. epidendraea but absent in M. acuminata.
• Roots of both the taxa had a uniseriate epidermis, and exodermis, several layered parenchymatous cortex.
• In E. epidendraea and M. acuminata, vascular cylinders were 11–15 arched.
• Raphides occurred as idioblasts and fungal pelotons found in the root cortex.
• Aeration cells were present in roots and rhizomes of M. acuminata.

The pseudobulbs and subterranean organs (roots and rhizomes) of Eulophia epidendraea, and Malaxis acuminata in subfamily Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae) were investigated to determine morphology, anatomy and mycorrhizal occurrence. The examined sections showed the following common anatomical characteristics. The pseudobulbs had a uniseriate epidermis. The assimilatory cells were scattered in the form of mucilage/water storage cells in the ground tissue. The vascular bundles were collateral and embedded in the ground tissue. Raphides occurred as idioblasts. Rhizomes had an uniseriate epidermis, parenchymatous ground tissue differentiated into outer and inner zones with polygonal intercellular spaces. Vascular bundles scattered, collateral and discontinuous form in both the taxa. Aeration cells were present in roots and rhizomes of M. acuminata. The transverse section of E. epidendraea roots had multi-layered velamen with spiral thickening followed by uniseriate exodermis with passage cells that had webbed tilosomes. The parenchymatous cortex contained raphides and water storage cells. Vascular bundles were 11–15 arched. Roots of M. acuminata had an uniseriate velamen, exodermis, parenchymatous cortex, endodermis and pericycle. The vascular bundles were radially arranged, and 11–12 arched. The xylem and phloem were embedded in sclerenchymatous tissue. The entry of the mycorrhizal fungi was chiefly through root hairs in roots and epidermis in rhizomes of M. acuminata, and in E. epidendraea. Fungi formed pelotons in both the taxa and microsclerotia and monilioid cells in the root cortex of E. epidendraea. Additionally, Glomus- type vesicles were occasionally present in the roots of M. acuminata. Description of characteristics arising from this investigation may provide additional morphological and anatomical means of identification.