Plant Diversity ›› 2013, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 1-10.DOI: 10.7677/ynzwyj201312066

• Articles •     Next Articles

 Leaf Epidermal Microfeatures of Chelonopsis (Lamiaceae: Lamioideae) and Its Taxonomical Significance

 XIANG  Chun-Lei-1, CHEN  Li-1, CHEN  Ya-Ping-1、2, HU  Guo-Xiong-1、2, PENG  Hua-1   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biogeography, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
    Kunming 650201, China; 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2012-05-03 Online:2013-01-25 Published:2012-07-11

Abstract:

Leaf epidermis of 16 species from Chelonopsis and its related taxa, Bostrychanthera deflexa, were examined under both light microscope and scanning electronic microscope. As a result, all species are characterized with irregular leaf epidermis cells, except those of sect. Aequidens (C.souliei, C.forrestii and C.albiflora), which are nearly rectangular. Two kinds of anticlinal walls of adaxial epidermis cells can be distinguished: sinuous and straightarched. Stomatal apparatuses, whose density varies in different species, can only be found in abaxial epidermis. Highly consistent in all examined species are the type of guard cells and the smooth inner margin of outer stomatal rim. What’s more, three cuticular patterns are recognized: ridged, long striped, and with snow flaked or granulate appendages. Consequently, Characters of leaf epidermis in Chelonopsis, such as pattern of epidermal cell and cuticular ornamentation, are of great significance in understanding the relationships at both infrageneric and interspecific levels. In addition, density of stomatal apparatuses may be correlated with the habitat of some species in Chelonopsis.

Key words: Tribe Gomphostemmateae, Lamiaceae, Microfeatures, Taxonomy

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