XVI International Botanical Congess

Leaf samples of Celosia cristata L. an ornamental plant was collected from non-polluted sites and from plants grown on the divider of a busy road with heavy traffic density, where the main pollutants were gaseous and particulate matter emitted from automobile exhaust, to study its morphology and changes (if any) in their wax, cuticular and epidermal traits. It was observed that the foliar surface was heavily leaded with particulate matter (dust) in polluted populations. The overall growth of the plant was severely hampered with distortions in surface features. The study underscores the importance of cuticular and epidermal features of various plant species in determining their respective tolerance/sensitivity to atmospheric pollutants.