Leaf anatomy of the South African Danthonieae (Poaceae). XII. Pentameris thuarii

Abstract

The leaf blade anatomy of  Pentameris thuarii Beauv. is described and illustrated. It is shown that the leaf anatomy of  P. thuarii bears little resemblance to the anatomy of  P. macrocatyciiw (Steud.) Schweick..  P. obiiisifolia (Hochst.) Schweick., P. longiglumis (Nccs) Stapf or P. dregeana Stapf. The leaf anatomy of P. thuarii was found to correspond closely with that of some specimens of Pentaschistis pallescens (Schrad.) Stapf, P. silvatica Adamson and P. lonuosa (Trin.) Stapf. The morphology of these  Pentaschistis specimens needs to be compared with that of  P. thuarii in order to establish whether the true relationships of  P. thuarii lie with these taxa. Anatomically. P. thuarii does not appear to be closelv related to anv species presently classified in Pentameris.