Significance of leaf (midrib and lamina) characters in the identification of Terminalia l. (Combretaceae)

Abstract

Leaf (midrib and lamina) anatomical characters were investigated to enhance the identification of Terminalia L. The central portions of the mature leaves were fixed in formaldehyde, glacial acetic acid, and ethanol (FAA) for 12 hrs. They were dehydrated in alcohol series, hand-sectioned, stained with safranin and alcian blue, mounted on a slide, viewed, and photographed with Optika B-1000 FL LED fitted with digital camera. Our findings showed the absence of rib trace in T. ivorensis, presence of secretory ducts in T. catappa, open vascular cylinder with incurved ends in T. mantaly, and medullary phloem in T. avicenniodes. These characters were key to the delimitation of the Terminalia species.