Comparative foliar epidermal morphology of the West African species of the genus Afzelia Smith (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae)
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Date
2008
Authors
Kadiri, A.. B.
Olowokudejo, J. D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Botanical Society of Chile
Abstract
The epidermal features of the leaves of the six West African species of Afzelia were examined and compared using light and
scanning electron microscopy. The leaves are hypostomatic in all species and stomatal type is paracytic. Anticlinal walls
may be undulate or straight-curved and stomatal index ranges from 17.48% in A. bella var. gracilior to 25.20% in A.
bipindensis. Porrect and flattened scales distinguish the infra-specific taxa of A. bella while presence of unicellular
trichomes separates A. pachyloba from other species. The leaf surface is entirely covered by epicuticular wax deposits
and the stomata are either raised or sunken in the genus. Using these foliar epidermal characters, an artificial key has been
prepared to facilitate identification of the species.
Description
Keywords
Afzelia , stomata , epidermal cell , morphology , taxonomy
Citation
Kadiri, A.. B. and Olowokudejo, J. D. (2008). Comparative foliar epidermal morphology of the West African species of the genus Afzelia Smith (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae). Gayana Botanica 65: 84 - 92