Morfologia foliar comparativa de 20 espécies de chrysobalanaceae

Abstract

Morphological studies focusing on vegetative traits are useful in identifying species when fertile material is not available. Te aim of this study was to assess the application of comparative leaf morphology to identify species of the Chrysobalanaceae family. Te morphological observations were made with a stereomicroscope. We used the diaphanization technique for viewing venation details. It is shown the descriptions of the leaf morphology, illustrations and an identifcation key for 20 species from genera Couepia, Licania and Parinari (Chrysobalanaceae) occurring in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, Manaus, AM, Brazil. Te key was constructed using the DELTA (DEscription Language for TAxonomy) software. Leaf traits such as the presence of intersecondary venation and the type of insertion of secondary veins were recorded for each species. Tese morphological leaf traits are reliable for identifying species of Chrysobalanaceae.