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Comparative foliar epidermal micromorphology of Southern African Strychnos L. (Loganiaceae): taxonomic, ecological and cytological considerations

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Abstract

The micromorphology of the leaf epidermis of 11 species across four sections of southern African Strychnos was investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In addition to this, preliminary genome size was assessed with flow cytometry. Qualitative and quantitative results are presented for stomata, trichome and cuticular wax features with an emphasis on the abaxial epidermal surface. A correlated combination of these microscopic features was able to distinguish successfully among the 11 species of Strychnos found in the subcontinent. However, micromorphological evidence does not support the current circumscription of the sections. The often-confused S. gerrardii and S. madagascariensis are distinguishable on leaf micromorphological grounds. Stomata and trichome features show remarkable patterns that largely correlate with the ecological distribution of Strychnos species as either forest or savanna inhabitants. The significant variability in stomatal length across species is hypothesized to be indicative of possible existence of variable ploidy levels within the genus in southern African. However, preliminary genome size analyses with flow cytometry appear to be inconclusive.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Sharon Eggers of the Microscopy and Microanalysis Unit of University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville for guidance on the SEM. AA and YN acknowledge the NRF-Thuthuka scheme for funding part of this research. The authors also thank two anonymous reviewers for their critical but helpful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, New Biology Building, South Ring Road, Westville, 3630, South Africa

    Adekunle Adebowale, Yougasphree Naidoo, Jennifer Lamb & Ashley Nicholas

  2. School of Animal Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    Adekunle Adebowale

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  1. Adekunle Adebowale
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  2. Yougasphree Naidoo
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Correspondence to Adekunle Adebowale.

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Adebowale, A., Naidoo, Y., Lamb, J. et al. Comparative foliar epidermal micromorphology of Southern African Strychnos L. (Loganiaceae): taxonomic, ecological and cytological considerations. Plant Syst Evol 300, 127–138 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-013-0865-z

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