Foliar epidermal features and their taxonomic significance in Onagraceae

摘要

The present investigation brings out the leaf epidermal characters in five species belonging to four genera of Onagraceae. The leaves are variable in shape and aimphistomatic. The stomatal types encountered are anomocytic, anisocytic and tetracytic.Anisocytic stomata are dominant in a few species. A peculiar wall thickening at polar end of stomata is noted in Gaura. The leaves are glabrous in Clarkia. The trichomes are conical and/or club-shaped. They are thin or thick walled, long or short and straight or curved. A key for taxonomic segregation of the taxa is presented based on epidermal characteristics.