Morphology and anatomy of leaves and vegetative shoots in Calocedrus Kurz (Cupressoideae, Cupressaceae s.str.) in the light of species identification

Abstract

Identifying conifers without reproductive structures is often quite difficult. However, the cones are not always available. Thus, species identification has to be done on the base of vegetative structures. Here distinct diagnostic differences are needed to distinguish between the taxa and good macro- and micromorphological as well as anatomical features are urgently needed. In this study, the morphology of sterile shoots and the leaf anatomy of the cupressaceous genus Calocedrus were investigated. The study's aim is to find reliable diagnostic features allowing a serious identification of each distinct species in the absence of reproductive structures. A short identification key for all four Calocedrus species was prepared. It includes also the rare C. rupestris, which is missing in most of the previous works, so this gap is closed now. In addition, the study should show which ones are good diagnostic features that might be useful for preparing identification keys on the base of vegetative features also for other scale-leaved conifers.