Secretion of salts is one of the characteristic features of mangroves, through which they regulate ion concentration in the tissues. For this purpose, they bear salt glands, which are useful in the process of secretion. Acanthus ilicifolius L. is one of the salt secreting mangrove species. During present investigation, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Chlorides were analyzed from the salts secreted by this plant. The concentration of Chlorides was found to be highest, while minimum Potassium was secreted by the leaves. Sodium and Calcium were also secreted in appreciable amounts. Maximum Sodium was secreted from first leaf (1.248 mg / l / cm2), which followed a decreasing trend with leaf maturity, reaching lowest concentration (0.038 mg / l / cm2) in senescent leaf. Almost similar pattern was followed by remaining three elements. Secretion of elements was found to be related to the density of salt glands, which was maximum in immature leaf (13600 / cm2), while minimum (1300 / cm2) in matured 11 leaf.
Acanthus ilicifolius L, Salt secretion, Salt glands
