The economic and medicinal important genus Jatropha contains many distinctly different species. To elucidate the genetic relationship of five common occurring Jatropha species namely J. multifida, J. podagrica, J.tanjorernsis, J. curcas, and J. gossypifolia, thirty-nine morphological, six phytochemical features and one arbitrary marker was used to screen and explore their similarity. Morphological data was obtained from the measurement of vegetative and reproductive parts while the presence of five phytochemicals was determined using differentphytochemical tests. The DNA of all five Jatropha species were amplified and sequenced using Ribolose 1, 5- biphosphate carboxylase molecular marker. The DNA sequences were then aligned using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool for nucleotide 2.8.0 version of the National Center for Biotechnology Information database and phylogenetic trees were constructed using Paleontological Statistical software and Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 7.0.26 software. From the results of the classical and phylogenetic cluster analysis, the five Jatropha species was separated into two major clusters. The highly distinctive J. gossypifolia was the only species that clustered separately from the other Jatropha species. Although, J. tanjorensis has been reported to be a hybrid from J. curcas and J. gossypifolia, the species did not segregate and cluster with these species, but segregated with J. multifida, and J.podagrica, indicating that this species is more closely related to J. multifida, and J. podagrica than J. curcas and J.gossypifolia. The result therefore provide information that would be useful in the plant improvement programs for the genus Jatropha.

This study was set to investigate the comparative morphological and anatomical characteristics of Aloe vera barbadensis Miller and Aloe vera var. chinensis(Haw) Berger. These are evergreen perennials belonging to Asphodelaceae Juss. in the Order Asparagales Link. The former measures up to 80±20cm in height with lanceolate leaves and rosette habit. The leaves have spiny margins decorated with whitish spots on both foliar surfaces which disappear at maturity. The tubular flowers are orange and densely clustered at the stem apex; corolla is yellowish, tubular and up to 2.5±0.5cm in length whereas the latter is 40±10cm in height with rather lightly green rosette leaves and foliar white spots on foliar surfaces maintained at maturity. The two plants are fleshy and succulent with mild bitter taste. Leaves are amphistomatic with tetracytic sunken stomata. The cells of the epidermal layer are nucleated mostly hexagonal and includepentagonal, heptagonal to square or rounded. Stomatal indices for Aloe vera barbadensis adaxial foliar layer is 7.92 % and abaxial 4.76% while Aloe vera var. chinensis adaxial surface is 7.92% and abaxial 3.85%, not significant. Anatomical studies revealed the cell  types from the epidermis, hypodermis, general cortex to the pith are similar in mid-ribs, petioles, stems and nodes. The roots have piths and vasculation is closed type. Phytochemical studies showed the presence of Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins in both species, whereas combined anthraquinone was observed absent in both plants. Cardenolide, phlobatannins and free anthraquinones were present in Aloe vera var. chinesis but absent in Aloe vera barbadensis while cyanogenic glycoside was absent in Aloe vera var chinensis but present in Aloe vera barbadensis. The species are used in natural medicine. The information contained in this research would further aid in the taxonomic delimitations of these plants. Keywords: Comparative, Aloe vera, phytochemistry, morphology, anatomy, Asphodelaceae.

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