Leaf epidermal studies in the Genus Vernonia Schreber tribe Vernonieae (Compositae) in West Africa

Abstract

SummaryA comparative study of the leaf epidermis of 62 species in the genus Vernonia in West Africa was undertaken. Variations observed in the cell shape, anticlinal cell wall pattern, cell size, cell wall thickness, stomatal frequency, stomatal size and trichomes are discussed and their taxonomic implications if any are noted. Essentially, the trichomes are more useful taxonomically in the discrimination of the species into sections than any of the other epidermal characters. Several figures are presented to explain the variations in those characters mentioned above.