Tracheoid Idioblasts in Chenopodiaceae: A Review and New Observations on Salicornia virginica

Tracheoid idioblasts in the Chenopodiaceae have been reported in about 30 species of Salicornia and Arthrocnemum. These cells vary in size, shape, wall pattern, abundance, and spatial relation to vascular bundles. Most investigators have reported, or shown them to be unattached to vascular bundles. Tracheoid idioblasts in our examples of Salicornia virginica L., from two California coastal sites and a coastal site in Washington, were never connected to vascular bundles. The cortex of flowering and vegetative shoots contained helical-walled tracheids, whereas reticulate and pitted cells occurred only in flowering shoots. Elongate spicular cells with 2° walls were found in both types of shoot, just outside of the stele