Abstract
Little attention has been paid to species of Chamaecrista sect. Apoucouita (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae), especially regarding anatomical studies. When only vegetative material is available, the identification of such species may be difficult. Additionally, vegetative material of some species of C. sect. Apoucouita may be even harder to identify because they can resemble species of Inga Mill. (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae). The present study focused on recognizing morphoanatomical characters of leaves that are taxonomically useful for the species of C. sect. Apoucouita by employing standard anatomical techniques. The arrangement of the vascular system in the petiole/rachis, dorsiventral mesophyll, mucilage idioblasts in the epidermis of leaflets and hypostomatic leaves were some of the characters shared by all species studied. Length of the petiole, position and type of extrafloral nectaries, leaflet venation, presence and type of papillae on the epidermis of the leaflet blades and sclereids in the mesophyll were some of the characters useful in the distinction of taxa. The vascular arrangement of the petiole/rachis is a promising character in the distinction of species of C. sect. Apoucouita and Inga. Based on morphoanatomical data, the taxonomic revision of some species and varieties ascribed to C. sect. Apoucouita is suggested.
Highlights
Chamaecrista is one of the most diverse genera of Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae, including about 330 species (Lewis 2005)
Owing to the importance of morphoanatomical characters as an additional tool in taxonomic and phylogenetical studies, we addressed the following questions: Are there recognizable leaf morphoanatomical characters that support the taxonomy of the species of C. sect
extrafloral nectary (EFN) Position was especially useful in the recognition of C. adiantifolia, C. aspleniifolia, C. aspidiifolia, C. hymenaeifolia, C. onusta, C. polystachya, C. subpeltata and C. xinguensis since EFNs on the petiole proper could always be observed
Summary
Chamaecrista is one of the most diverse genera of Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae, including about 330 species (Lewis 2005). Apoucouita may be characterized as having cauliflorous or ramiflorous inflorescences (Fig. 1E) with minute, truncate or depressive inflorescence glands (Fig. 1F) and pendant elastically-dehiscent pods (Fig. 1G) Such arborescent species are usually found in neotropical rain forests, and are most diverse in the Amazon and Brazilian Atlantic forests Morphoanatomy has proven useful in supporting molecular studies within Chamaecrista, which elevated all varieties to the species level (Conceição et al 2008; Coutinho et al 2013). Fragments from the middle portion of both the leaflet (including the middle vein, margin and area between the margin and the middle vein) and the petiole/rachis (base of the petiole right after the pulvinus and rachis right after the insertion of the first pair of leaflets) were taken The fragments from both the herbarium and field-collected specimens stored in.
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