Anatomical Studies of the Luzulae Group of Cyperus (Cyperaceae)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The systematic relationships of the Luzulae group of Cyperus are elucidated by anatomical studies of the achenes and leaves. Epidermal patterns of the achenes are distinctive, consistent for each taxon, and useful in clarifying instances of interspecific hybridization; variation of the epidermal cells is most evident with respect to the size of the cell, the number, thickness, and sinuosity of the anticlinal walls per cell, and the shape and nature of the apex of the silica body found in the center of each cell. Leaf anatomical data support the present classification of the Luzulae group. Leaf epidermal patterns as well as the structure of the vascular bundles and the arrangements of sclerenchyma, mesophyll, and air spaces observed in leaf transverse sections are mostly uniform among the taxa. The most variable leaf anatomical characters are the number of vascular bundles per leaf (correlated with leaf width) and the occurrence of bulliform cells. The study confirms the use of achene epidermal features at the varietal or specific level, and the use of leaf anatomical features at the sectional, generic, or familial level.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: