Search

This study describes the comprehensive micromorphology and taxonomic evidence of 28 species of Annonaceae from Nigeria and the Cameroons using light microscopy to provide additional anatomical and morphological diagnostic characters to complement the systematics boundaries of the infrafamilial and tribal clades. The epidermal cell shape varies from polygonal to irregular on both or either surface except Annona reticulata with isodiametric on the adaxial surface. The anticlinal wall patterns are either undulated, straight, or curved in the family. The constant generic feature encountered includes hypostomata which are mostly paracytic except in Cananga odorata, Isolona zenkeri, Uvaria angolensis and Letestudoxa bella possessing pericytic, 1 + 2 laterocytic and stephanocytic, respectively. Hemiparacytics, brachyamphiparacytic and brachyparacytic stomata, which are variables of paracytic are also present. These stomata complexes proved useful in species delimitation and diagnostic of the family Annonaceae. Other foliar epidermal features were crystals of different shapes and sizes mainly of druses and styloid, unicellular trichome type, and anticlinal wall pattern. The pattern of affinity among the species suggested evidence of similarity and differences in the micromorphological characters, which cumulated to the distinct identification of each species. Based on the most reliable characters within the family, the k‐means cluster, distance matrix, correlation coefficient, and UPGMA dendrogram tree were constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative foliar epidermal characteristics of 15 species of Acalypha L. in West Africa are analysed using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Presence of hypostomatic leaves supports the series accepted by Bentham and Hooker (ser. Pantogynae-Acrogynae and ser. Pantogynae- Pleurogynae) except A. wilkesiana. In taxa of other series amphistomatic leaves were recorded. Among other taxonomically useful features of the genus are polygonal and irregular epidermal cell shapes, curved and undulate anticlinal walls, presence of regular to irregular striae and deposition of waxy flakes on the leaf surfaces. A. ceraceopunctata and A. segetalis can be distinguished from other species by the presence of peltate scale and only paracytic stomata respectively. An artificial bracketed dichotomous key is presented to delimit species of the genus Acalypha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]