Philippine Journal of Science
150 (1): 277-289, February 2021
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 27 Jul 2020

Morphological and Leaf Anatomical
Characteristics of Different Variants of Narra
(Pterocarpus indicus Willd.) Seedlings

Hannah Mari Carmela M. Flores^1,2, Marilyn O. Quimado²,
Crusty E. Tinio², Lerma SJ. Maldia², and Marilyn S. Combalicer²*

¹Community Environment and Natural Resources Office
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Lipa City, Batangas 4217 Philippines
²Department of Forest Biological Sciences,College of Forestry and Natural Resources
University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031 Philippines

*Corresponding author: mscombalicer@up.edu.ph

ABSTRACT

Pterocarpus indicus, commonly known as narra, is one of the native leguminous trees in the Philippines that has occupied wide geographic distribution resulting in variability of its morphological and structural characteristics. In this study, the morphological and leaf anatomical features of four P. indicus variants (smooth narra – SN, short prickly narra – PNS, medium prickly narra – PNM, and long prickly narra – PNL) in Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) were characterized. Based on seven morphological parameters, the mean root length, mean leaf number, and mean leaf area significantly separated the two major P. indicus forms. SN has a higher mean leaf number but shorter mean root length and smaller mean leaf area compared to the three variants of prickly narra (PNS, PNM, and PNL). Within the prickly narra (PN) variants, PNS and PNM showed distinct similarities based on six morphological parameters. At the same time, PNL seedlings have higher root-shoot ratio and mean biomass, indicating the greater capacity of this variant to store photosynthate material in its roots. The leaf anatomical parameters confirmed the similar features of two PN variants (PNS and PNM). Furthermore, the SN and PNL were significantly distinguished by the palisade and spongy mesophyll, xylem, and phloem area, where SN was considerably higher in all parameters except in the phloem area. This indicates that SN has a higher photosynthetic rate and has high storage capacity and ease of transport of water and organic matter. Thus, the morphological attributes and anatomical parameters contribute to further differentiating the two major forms of P. indicus.