Comparative anatomical studies ofArtocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg andArtocarpus communis (J. R. G. Forster) in Nigeria

摘要

Comparative anatomy of twoArtocarpus species was carried out to identify and describe anatomical characters in search of distinctive characters that could possibly be used to delimit the two taxa. Transverse, tangential and radial longitudinal sections and macerated samples of the stem and root wood were prepared onto microscopic slides. Epidermal peels and cleared leaves of the two species were made. Characteristic similarity disparity in the tissues arrangement as well as cell inclusions were noted for description and delimitation. The twoArtocarpus species studied had essentially the same an-atomical features; however, there were characters that seem to be taxon specific. The study revealed that at the transverse plane of the root,A. communis(J. R. & G. Forster) have predominantly solitary vessel, whereas pore multiple was pre-dominant inA. altilis(Parkinson) Fosberg. Tyloses in vessels of the root were more frequent inA. communis than inA. altilis.In the cleared leaves, venation pattern also revealed some differences in the two species. The veins ofA. communis were more or less straight and that ofA. altilis were undulating especially in the secondary veins. Prismatic crystals were found in the cortex of the petiole inA. communis but not inA. altilis. Similarly, tannins were found in the root bark ofA. communis but not inA. altilis. Trichomes and scales were more abundant inA. communis than inA. altilis. In the transverse section of the leaves, abaxial and adaxial epidermis were uniseriate inA. communis but only the abaxial epidermis was uniseriate inA. altilis, the adaxial epidermis was made up of 2 to 3 layers of cells. The epidermal cells inA. communis were predominantly short cylindrical shaped cells but were not so inA. altilis.