Oral Paper

         Systematics

Foliar Morphology of Schleichereae

Presenting Author
Temitope Onuminya
Description
Schleichereae Radlk. is a tribe of flowering plants in the family Sapindaceae Juss. In this study, foliar anatomical evaluation of some species in the tribe Schleichereae namely: Haplocoelum gallaense, Schleichera oleosa, Lecaniodiscus punctatus, Lecaniodiscus cupanioides was carried out, with the view to aid proper identification of the species. Both quantitative and qualitative characters were studied following standard procedures. Strips of epidermal layers were obtained from the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaves and viewed under the light microscope. The number, length and width of the epidermal cells, stomata and trichomes were measured on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis where mean, standard deviation, standard error, and range were calculated. In all the four species studied, the leaf is hypostomatic with stomata restricted to the abaxial surface of the leaf. Stomata type is typically anomocytic; sunken in S. oleosa, raised in H. gallaense and L. cupanioides and flat in L. punctatus. Cell shape is irregular on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, except in L. punctatus and S. oleosa where the cells are polygonal to irregular on the adaxial surface. The anticlinal wall pattern is sinuous except in S. oleosa where it is straight to undulate. Trichomes were typically absent with exception to S. oleosa where simple unicellular trichomes were observed on the adaxial surface. Striations were observed on both surfaces of the leaves of all the four species studied however all the species varied greatly in their quantitative characters. This variation in epidermal characters between the studied species is of value for taxonomic purposes. An indented dichotomous key is presented for the delimitation of the taxa.  *The authors appreciate the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Nigeria for the conference attendance sponsorship given.