Abstract: The morphological structure of vessel elements of ten Ribes L. varieties were observed and studied by optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results are as follows: (1) The perforations for vessel elements of the ten Ribes L. varieties are scalariform perforation plate, and the number of perforation plate bars is different while the angles of end wall are in the little change. (2) There are alternate pitting and both alternate pitting and opposite pitting, and the shape of pits are different. (3) In the inner wall of some vessel elements, there are spiral thickenings and nets embossment. The researches show that Ribes L. varieties under different habitats have strong correlation between morphological structure and its ecological adaptability. The results show that the vessel elements of hygrophilous species are shorter and wider in diameter, while the vessel element of the xerophytes species are longer and smaller in diameter and ones of mesial species are in the middle size in both length and diameter. The relationship between the morphological characteristics of vessel elements and their ecological adaptability was analyzed in this paper.

Key words: Ribes L., vessel element, perforaion plate, ecological adaptability