Abstract Detail

Systematics Section / ASPT

Csizmadi, Jessie [1], Snow, Neil [1].

A Preliminary Survey of Leaf Micromorphology in Eugenia (Myrtaceae) Based on Scanning Electron Microscopy.

Leaf micromorphological characters of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy on both adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower) surfaces. A total of 37 species were examined, which included taxa from both the Old and New world members of this genera and a few closely related genera. Several species (E. borinquensis, E. confusa, E. foetida, E. monticola, E. pseudopsidium E. sessiliflora, E. rhombea, E. stahlii, and E. stewardsonii) have longitudinally striated abaxial leaf surfaces. Eugenia angustissima was the only species that was sulcate across the entire abaxial surface; however, the extent to which this trait is an artifact of drying is unclear. Undulations of the abaxial surface appear in nearly all species, although the extent of this character varies widely. Only E. padronii had a scrobiculate abaxial surface, although this texture is much more prevalent on adaxial leaf surfaces, as for example on E. sp. 3, E. crenulata, E. dominguensis, E. monticola, E. padronii, E. pseudopsidium, E. stahlii, E. ericoides, Myrcia floribunda and Myrcinathes fragrans. Several species were striate on their adaxial surfaces (E. borinquensis, E. confusa, E. padronii, E. pseudopsidium , E. rhombea, and E. stewardsonii). Hair types varied from simple (E. biflora, E. zeyheri, Hexachlamys edulis, and H. anomola) to dibrachiate (E. stricta). This analysis suggests that micromorphological characters states are often difficult to delineate and that such characters are highly variable within Eugenia. It also suggests that there may be limited potential of leaf micromorphological characters as phylogenetic markers within Eugenia.

1 - University of Northern Colorado, Department of Biological Sciences, Greeley, Colorado, 80639, USA

Keywords:
Eugenia
Myrtaceae
Leaf Micromorphology
SEM
systematics.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 32-102
Location: Special Event Center (Cliff Lodge)
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:350