| Abstrak/Abstract |
Nymphaea pubescens grows in Lebak swampland in its different levels of water depth. This aquatic plant has an absorption
system that moves gases through the laminae and has a convective flow system through air canals in midrib and petiole.
This study aims to determine the adaptive structure of air canal in the water lilies (Nymphaea pubescens) laminae and how
its structure varies along with water-depth fluctuations. The research was conducted by observing plants in 4 (four) different
zones of water depth: (1) water depth between 28-95 cm (zone I), (2) 28-99 cm (zone II), (3) 54-112 cm (zone III), and (4) 55-
124 cm (zone IV).
Every lamina area, lamina thickness, and cross-sectional area (XS) of petiole, a number and area of air canals in
midrib and petiole were collected for analysis. The results showed that the cross-sectional area of the laminae N. pubescens
increased along with water depth, but the correlation with laminae thickness decreased. The midrib air canals are
symmetrically divided and there was one main canal pair, an additional three pairs of canals, and a pair of smaller canals.
The cross-sectional area of the midrib and air canal increased along with water depth. The calculation of the area of
four pairs of air canals is 75%. Air canals make up 34% of midrib cross-sectional area. The midrib air canals produced one
pair of air canals, an additional two pairs of canals and a pair of smaller canals. The calculation of the area of three pairs of
airways is 93%. Air canals make up 31% of the cross-sectional area of the petiole. The length of the petiole, the volume of
the petiole, and the volume of the air canal increased along with water depth, but the cross-sectional area of the petiole and
the air canal were not related by water depth.
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