Macromorphological and micromorphological studies of the west african rhizophora l.: With one figure, one table and one plate

✍ Scribed by A. A. Jayeola; J. R. Thorpe; T. A. Adenegan

• Book ID: 102838887
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 662 KB
• Volume: 112
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-8962
• DOI: 10.1002/fedr.4921120505

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A taxonomic study of the West African Rhizophora L. was conducted in search of useful and stable characters for the identification of species. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a wealth of epidermal anatomical characters. Epicuticular wax micromorphology indicates that R. harrisonii is a hybrid between R. mangle and R. racemosa, thus providing evidence for a genetic basis of wax sculpturing and agrees with macromorphological qualitative and quantitative attributes. Characters of R. racemosa and R. harrisonii were consistently close in resemblance and values to suggest intro‐gressive hybridization. Epicuticular wax type, papillae, stomatal ledge, peristomatal rim and poral epidermis are all important anatomical characters as revealed by SEM. Lamina length‐width ratios are stable and could be used for the identification of these species. A new key to the West African Rhizophora is included.