Taxonomic Significance of Foliar Epidermis of some Phyllanthus species in South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Leaf epidermal studies were carried out on six species of Phyllanthus L., Family Euphorbiaceae occurring in South Eastern Nigeria. The species investigated include P. amarus Schum and Thonn, P. urinaria Linn., P. odontadenius Mull-Arg., P. niruroides Mull-Arg., P. mullerianus (O. Ktze) Excel and P. discoideus (Baill) Mull-Arg. The study was done in order to investigate their taxonomic relationship and to identify epidermal features that can be recognized and employed as useful taxonomic characters. Qualitative features of the epidermal morphology showed variations in shapes of the epidermal cells and types of stomata, which varied from wavy, polygonal to sinuous and anisocystic, tetracytic to paracytic respectively in the different species. Differences were found in the distribution of the stomata as well as the variation in the cell wall contours and thickness. Also, a quantitative trait such as the stomatal index (SI) was described in details in the present study. A key for identification of the species is provided.