Systematic value of foliar epidermal morphology in some taxa of the tribes: Urticeae and Parietariae of the West African Urticaceae
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Date
2011
Authors
Kadiri, A. B.
Oboh, B. O.
Oha, C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Botanical Garden PJ Safarik University Slovakia
Abstract
The foliar epidermal characteristics of all West African
species of the tribe Parietarieae and some taxa in the tribe Urticeae
were investigated by the means of light microscopy for the
purposes of easy identification and justification of recent taxonomic
merging of Fleurya with Laportea. In the tribes, cell number is
higher on the adaxial surface (52 to 110) than on the abaxial
surface (19 to 96), stomata number varies from 31 to 42 per mm²
while cell size ranged from 60.8 - 70.4 μm x 22.4 - 32.0 μm on the
adaxial surface and 32.0 - 40.0 μm x 16.0 - 22.4 μm on the abaxial
surface. Generally, all the species have hypostomatic leaves and
anomocytic stomatal type but paracytic and anisocytic types are
diagnostic for Laportea aestuans, Laportea ovalifolia, Parietaria
laxiflora, and Laportea alatipes. Glandular and simple trichomes of
different sizes were observed in all the taxa except in Girardinia
heterophylla and L. ovalifolia. The cell shape, anticlinal wall pattern,
and stomatal type which correlate to a reasonable extent have
supported the amalgamation of Laportea and Fleurya. Crystal
sands of calcium oxalate were found in L. ovalifolia, Girardinia
condensata, and Parietaria laxiflora while peltate scales
distinguished P. laxiflora from other species. The species have
medicinal and economic values. An artificial indented dichotomous
taxonomic key for separating the taxa is presented.
Description
Keywords
Urticaceae , Urticeae , Parietariaeae , leaf epidermis , morphology , West Africa
Citation
Kadiri A. B., Oboh B. O. and Oha C. (2011). Systematic value of foliar epidermal morphology in some taxa of the tribes: Urticeae and Parietariae of the West African Urticaceae. Thaiszia Journal of Botany 21: 73-83.