Leaf anatomy of the Menispermaceae tribe Tiliacoreae Miers

Abstract

An anatomical study of the leaves of 25 species belonging to 12 of the 19 genera has been made .The anatomical characters found to be of the most use in distinguishing taxa or groups of taxa are: in surface view-stomata1 outline. stomata1 density and distribution. subsidiary cell or surrounding cell patterns. presence /absence of hairs; in transverse sections-dimensions of adaxial epidermal cells. morphology of spongy mesophyll. midrib outline. number and distribution of vascular bundles. presencelabsence of an upper pulvinus. presencelabsence of sclereids in the upper pulvinus. presencelabsence of secretory sacs. crystal type and distribution .

A taxonomic revision of Curarea Barneby & Krukoff (Menispermaceae)

“…Several-lobed trichomes have been reported for C. toxicofera by Wilkinson (1989), but could not be confirmed here. It is likely that the tendency for the terminal cells to collapse in an irregular fashion in dried and/or aged samples gives the impression of trichomes being lobed.…”

“…Curarea species are exclusively hypostomatic, as noted by Wilkinson (1989). The stomata, between the strongly projecting veins (Fig.…”

“…Wilkinson (1989) described this arrangement of the epidermal cells under the guard cells as cyclocytic. Such projecting stomata with thick peristomatal rims are frequently associated with ecological factors such as high humidity and poor soils (Solereder 1908; Wilkinson 1979), conditions typical of the habitats occupied by species of Curarea .…”

“…Most of these features were studied by Wilkinson (1989) for C. candicans and C. toxicofera s.l. when describing characters common to Tiliacoreae as a whole.…”

“…In all species, stomata are raised on a short column of ca. 4 cells (5–6 cells fide Wilkinson 1989). …”