Summary: TRENDS in Plant Science Vol.7 No.6 June 2002 281ForumForumForum
marked ingrowths on their external cell
wall, thus increasing the plasmalemma
surface:cell volume ratio as seen in the
microvilli of digestive epithelium cells in
the animal stomach [4].
Thankstoitsstructure,thehaustorium
isparticularlywelladaptedtoitsroleinthe
digestionofseedreservesandinthe
provisionofnutrientstotheembryoduring
germination.Thisorganistypicalofpalm
embryosandhasnumerousstructural
analogieswithanimalstomachs,whichare
ofgreatinteresttocomparativeanatomy
andphysiologystudies,aswellasinthe
analysisofstructure­functionrelationships.
Jean-Luc Verdeil*
Valérie Hocher
IRD/CIRAD Coconut Program, UMR 1098
BDPPC, IRD, 911 Av. Agropolis, BP 64501,

Source: Allen, John F. - School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London

Collections: Renewable Energy; Biology and Medicine