This study provides detailed information of the anatomical attributes of the epidermis and the three regions of the petiole of four members of the genus Dieffenbachia Schott. Fresh samples of the leaves of Dieffenbachia picta Schott, Dieffenbachia oerstedii Schott, Dieffenbachia senguine (Jacq) Schott and Dieffenbachia senguine cultivar 'Candida' Schott were used. Epidermal peels and transverse sections were made following standard procedures. Generic characters revealed uniform epidermal cell shape on the abaxial surface, wavy to undulating and straight to wavy anticlinal wall patterns on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces respectively, brachyparacytic stomata types, round abaxial petiole outline, the presence of raphides and druses in the petioles of all the taxa.

Acetolysed pollen grains of Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn., Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. pink petals, Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. white petals and Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. pink and white petals F1 hybrid were studied in order to document their morphological structures and ascertain features of taxonomic significance among them. All the taxa have generic features which support their classification as a genus as well as distinct features which ascertain their individuality. Generic features include monad pollen unit, acolpate and monocolpate pollen grains as well as circular and ovate pollen shapes. The delimiting features include additional dyads pollen units in T. triangulare white petal and the F1 hybrid of T. triangulare pink and white petals, quadrangular pollen shape in T. paniculatum, bicolpate pollen grain in the F1 hybrid, tricolpate pollens in   T. triangulare white petal and T. paniculatum, tetracolpate pollens in T. triangulare pink petal and T. paniculatum and pentacolpate pollen grains in T. paniculatum only. The shape of the pores in T. paniculatum also separated it from the varieties and hybrid of T. triangulare. Based on the pollen size, the pollens of T. paniculatum are Media (25 - 50 µm) while those of the two varieties of T. triangulare and their F1 hybrid are Magna (50 - 100 µm). The taxa of Talinum in this study can be separated based on their palynological features.

This work gives detailed information of the proximate, phytochemical, Vitamin C and mineral constituents of the leaves and corms of members of family Araceae from genera Alocasia, Colocasia and Xanthosoma with the aim of promoting the use of these genera as food and solving some taxonomic problems. X-Ray Fluorescence was employed in determining the mineral constituents while other parameters were determined following standard methods. The result revealed high carbohydrate and moisture contents in all the taxa. The highest saponin and tannin contents were encountered in the leaves and corms of Xanthosoma saggitifolium. The leaves of the Xanthosoma taxa are rich in Vitamin C. Bulk, essential and non-essential elements were detected in all the taxa. They all had high potassium and calcium contents in their leaves and corms except in Colocasia esculentum var. esculentum where potassium was not detected in the leaves. Chromium was not detected in the leaves of Xanthosoma saggitifolium. Arsenic, Bromine and Rubidium were not detected in the leaves of Alocasia macrorrhiza, Alocasia plumbea, Xanthosoma mafaffa (Red) and Xanthosoma saggitifolium. Titanium was not detected in the leaves of the Colocasia and Xanthosoma varieties and the corms of Alocasia cucullata, Alocasia plumbea, Colocasia esculentum var. esculentum, Xanthosoma mafaffa (Red) and Xanthosoma saggitifolium. The use of nutritive parameters and phytochemicals in the taxonomy of the Araceae taxa was discussed.

Anatomical attributes are important for taxonomic studies of plants. This study investigated foliar and petiole anatomy of some members of the genera Colocasia and Xanthosoma. Similar and diagnostic characters critical for the taxonomy of the two genera were identified. The similar characters include, polygonal epidermal cell shape, straight adaxial anticlinal wall pattern, brachyparacytic stomata type, elliptic shaped stomata and unmodified raphide type. The presence of papillae on the adaxial surfaces of the members of genus Colocasia but not in the Xanthosoma taxa; lamellar collenchyma type in Xanthosoma mafaffa (Red), and unicellular non-glandular trichomes in Xanthosoma mafaffa (White) were recorded as diagnostic characters.

The wood anatomy of two varieties of Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb., that is the staminate and pistillate plants and four varieties of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Linn).Sw, namely, Red, Yellow, Off-white and Pink petal plants were studied in search of wood anatomical characters that may be useful in the taxonomy of the Caesalpinia genus. Transverse, tangential longitudinal and radial longitudinal sections of the woods were made and some other parts of the woods were macerated. Qualitative and quantitative characters were observed and measured respectively, in all the taxa. The data were subjected to Duncan multiple range test (DMRT), principal components analysis (PCA) and single linkage cluster analysis (SLCA). The results revealed that growth ring is absent in all the taxa studied. They all have diffuse porous woods with heterogenous, uniseriate rays and solitary vessels. Pistillate plant of C. bonduc is the only taxa with multiple ray cells. Apotracheal axial parenchyma type was unique to the staminate plant of C. bonduc while paratracheal type was unique to C. bonduc pistillate. All the varieties of C. pulcherrima lack axial parenchyma. Tylose was absent in the pistillate plant of C. bonduc var. female and C. pulcherrima var. pink but present in all the other taxa. The first three components of the PCA accounted for 95.73% of the total variation among the taxa. It was concluded that quantitative and qualitative wood anatomical characters can be employed in differentiating the species and varieties of Caesalpinia studied.