Wedelia chinensis Merrill (Asteraceae) is a medicinally important herb, grown abundantly in soils contaminated with heavy metals. The effects of high arsenic exposure on fruit micro-characteristics of Wedelia chinensis Merrill have been investigated carefully. Fruit macro-morphological features remained unaffected during arsenic treatment. Micro-morphological and anatomical characters like trichome, pappus, epicarp, mesocarpic parenchyma, phytomelanin layer, endosperm etc. are seriously

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... under high metal concentration as compared to control. Blackening of the trichome tip, cross wall, pappus tip and margin have been noticed. Sometimes entire endosperm cells became filled up by electron dense dark materials. Thickenings of epicarpic cell walls and phytomelanin layer are also observed. Another very important response was the cyrstallization in pappus cells and mesocarpic parenchymatous cells of cypselas of treated plants. Manifestation of these cypselas features clearly indicates the underlying stress response of the plant under environmental contamination.