Edwin-Wosu, L. Nsirim, Wejinya, C. and T. Omara-Achong
Comparative systematic study of foliar epidermal trichome morphology of species of Anthocleista found in Nigeria was carried out in parts of Niger Delta area of the country. The area covered includes parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States. The present study brings out the trichome morphology in leaf epidermal surfaces in four species belonging to the genus Anthocleista of the Loganiaceae. The micromorphological observations reveal some interesting features with reference to the type, and frequency or abundance of trichomes on foliar surfaces of the species studied. Though there could be similarity in terms of type and morphology in both surfaces of the species, A. liebrechtsiana showed a lesser abundance of trichome on both surface. Anthocleista djalonesis has in addition to other types, conical, falcate and stellate trichomes. Based on the variations in the above feature 10 types of trichomes among the four groups of species of Anthocleista are recognized. These include: cylindrical unbranched, 3- armed, 5- armed, dendritic, scale, 2- armed, conical, falcate, stellate and simple unbranched trichomes. The adaptive variation and taxonomic significance of the trichome epidermal features observed in this study further highlight the usefulness of micro anatomical structures in taxonomic delimitation. This therefore confirms earlier suggestions on the use of this epidermal structure including trichomes in plant classification.
