Micromorphological Study of Shrubs from Roadsides in Kathmandu Valley

Urban air pollution is an environmental concern, particularly in developing countries and in their cities. The present study was mainly aimed to study the effect of air pollution on the micromorphological characteristics of the leaf of Euphorbia pulcherrima and Jasminum mesnyi from heavily polluted and less polluted areas of Kathmandu district. Different methods used to analyze the leaf structure (epidermal cells, stomatal frequency, and stomatal size). The stomatal study and observation from the leaf surface were completed under the compound microscope. Based on study results, in E. pulcherrima, the epidermal cells, stomatal pores, and the subsidiary cells were prominent in the anatomical structure of the leaf. In the winter season, the values were comparatively high for all different structures at less polluted sites. The values were comparatively equal for the stomatal index. The number of stomata, clogged stomata, subsidiary cells, epidermal cells, and the stomatal index was comparatively high. In J. mesnyi, the epidermal cells, stomata, were clear and many numbers in epidermal cells. The values were more in the less and moderately polluted sites both in spring and in the winter season. The number of stomata and stomatal index was high at less polluted sites and in the winter season. Within the two seasons, winter and in pre-monsoon, the values of stomatal size were comparatively high in the less polluted site. It was concluded that these two study plant species were categorized as good for plantation because their leaf micromorphological structure from air polluted areas have given suitable results.