PJB-2021-617
Significance of leaf morphological variations within some Bauhinia L. species
Wafaa
Abstract
Leaf characters of 15 Egyptian Bauhinia species and two forms, investigated using both the eye lens and scanning electron microscope. Variations within the leaf shapes are recorded and all obvious morphological characters are subjected to statistical analyses. These analyses were restricted to the characters noticed by the eye lens only. Density, type and wall ornamentation of the hairs considerably varied between the studied taxa. Most of the species have epicuticular wax depositions with different shapes on the periclinal walls. Characters of both the periclinal and anticlinal walls, seen from SEM investigations are insignificant, while the hair type, density and wall ornamentations shows great variations within the taxa. This study supports the division of the Bauhinia species into two subgenera with five sections. Identification key and evolutionary line postulated within the studied species according to leaf macro-morphological characters.
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