Betts. — Autecology of Plants of Peridotite Belt, Nelson. 313 



Beneath the epidermis there is some chlorenchyma — a band 2-4 cells 

 deep, composed of spherical cells very closely arranged together, so that 

 there are only minute air-spaces. 



There are 4 more or less regular concentric rings of vascular bundles, 

 the outer ones of which are composed of small bundles. The vascular 

 bundles are of the usual monocotyledonous type, and each is surrounded 

 by a small amount of sclerenchyma. 



Fig. 45. — Libertia izioides. Transverse section of leaf ( x 230). a, cuticle ; b, stoma ; 

 c, sclerenchyma ; d, phloem ; e, xylem ; /, aqueous tissue ; g, chlorenchyma. 



All the cells of the ground-tissue except the chlorophyll-containing cells 

 have pitted lignified walls. The cells nearest the chlorenchyma are small, 

 have thick walls, and are closely arranged, so that there are no intercellular 

 air-spaces. As we pass towards the centre of the stem the cells become 

 larger and rounder, and their walls are thinner, and there are larger 

 intercellular air-spaces. 



