The ion levels in the epidermal bulliform cells of epidermis, mesophyll cells and cells of the vascular bundle sheath of four ecotypes of reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.) were determined by means of X_ray microanalysis. The results indicated that higher K +, Na +, Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and Cl - were distributed in the vascular bundle sheath cells than in mesophyll cells and epidermal bulliform cells of the swamp ecotype. Higher Ca 2+ was found in the bulliform cells than in mesophyll cells and vascular bundle sheath cells, higher Mg 2+ in the mesophyll cells and higher K +, Na + and Cl - in the vascular bundle sheath cells of the dune ecotype. Higher Na + and Mg 2+ was determined in the mesophyll cells than in the bulliform cells and vascular bundle sheath cells, and higher K +, Ca 2+ and Cl - in the vascular bundle sheath cells of the light salt meadow ecotype. In the heavy salt meadow ecotype, higher Na + and Mg 2+ were accumulated in the bulliform cells than in mesophyll cells and vascular bundle sheath cells, but higher K +, Ca 2+ and Cl - in the mesophyll cells. Furthermore, the distributional conditions of the above five ions in leaf cells of the four ecotypes and their significance in the physiological adaptation of reed to habitat were discussed in detail.
