On the systematic implication of foliar epidermal micro-morphological and venational characters: diversities in some selected Nigerian species of Combretaceae
Opeyemi Philips Akinsulirea, Olaniran Temitope Oladipo, Oluwabunmi Christy Akinkunmi, Oladipo Ebenezer Adeleye, Akinwumi Johnson Akinloye
Abstract
Foliar epidermal micro-morphology and venation patterns of eleven
species representing four genera in the family Combretaceae revealed stable foliar
anatomical characters that are diagnostic and are important in separating the taxa.
Distinguishing characters of taxonomic significance in the cells and tissues structures
of the species include epidermal cell shape, stomata type, stomata frequency, stomata
index, trichome micro-morphology and frequency, areolation shape, vein micromorphology
as well as distribution of druses within areoles. Numerous epidermal
striations on the abaxial surface of lamina are diagnostic for
Combretum zenkeri
while
C. platypterum
is distinctly separated from other taxa by the possession of staurocytic
stomata in addition to the prominent anomocytic and/or anisocytic stomata
.
The simple
unicellular non-glandular trichomes in the genus
Combretum
indicate a generic
attribute classificatory for members of the genus. Druses within the areoles classify
C.
platypterum, Terminalia catappa, T. superba
and
Quisqualis indica
within and across
the genera studied. This study which is in line with most previous studies revealed
that characters of epidermal micromorphology and venation patterns are important in
the identification and separation of the taxa discussed, and that the placement of the
species in each of their respective genus should be maintained.
Keywords
classification, Combretaceae, diagnostic, epidermal micromorphology, spot character, systematic, venation pattern |