Leaf Epidermal Studies in the Species of Stachytarpheta Found in Awka, Nigeria and its Taxonomic Implications.

ABSTRACT

The foliar epidermal and stomata study of the Stachytarpheta species present in Awka, south eastern Nigeria was carried out using standard anatomical procedure. The genus is a family of Verbenaceae and has three species in it which are present in the region. They include Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Stachytarpheta cayannensis and Stachytarpheta angustifolia. The study showed that epidermal cell shape, stomatal type and stomata shape both on adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the three plants were almost similar with little variation in S. cayannensis. The analysis of variance of stomata length, stomata size and epidermal cell size showed no significant difference between Stachytarpheta species (p>0.05) but thickness of upper epidermis, lower epidermis, stomata width and stomata index showed a significant difference between Stachytarpheta species (p<0.05). Finally, most of these characters studied were important taxonomic tools in the delimitation of the three species. Duncan multiple range test however, revealed the species relationship. Therefore, this study showed more affinity between S. jamaicensis and S. angustifolia, hence, delimiting S. cayannensis.