Comparative Foliar and Petiole Anatomy of Some Members of the Genus Dieffenbachia Schott in the Family Araceae

Oluwabunmi O Arogundade,Olubukola Adedeji

doi:10.15835/nsb9110022

Abstract

This study provides detailed information of the anatomical attributes of the epidermis and the three regions of the petiole of four members of the genus Dieffenbachia Schott. Fresh samples of the leaves of Dieffenbachia picta Schott, Dieffenbachia oerstedii Schott, Dieffenbachia senguine (Jacq) Schott and Dieffenbachia senguine cultivar ‘Candida’ Schott were used. Epidermal peels and transverse sections were made following standard procedures. Generic characters revealed uniform epidermal cell shape on the abaxial surface, wavy to undulating and straight to wavy anticlinal wall patterns on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces respectively, brachyparacytic stomata types, round abaxial petiole outline, the presence of raphides and druses in the petioles of all the taxa. Delimiting features include irregular epidermal cell shape on the adaxial surfaces of D. senguine and D. senguine cv. ‘Candida’, additional anomocytic stomata types on the abaxial surfaces of D. picta, D. oerstedii and adaxial surface of D. senguine, cuticular striations on the abaxial surfaces of D. oerstedii and D. senguine cv. ‘Candida’, druses and raphide bundle on the epidermal surface of D. senguine only, flat adaxial petiole outline and slightly concave adaxial petiole outline in the proximal and median regions of D. senguine cv. ‘Candida’ and the presence of lamellar collenchyma cells in the petiole of D. picta. Data for both quantitative and qualitative characters were subjected to Principal Components Analysis and Single Linkage Cluster Analysis. Interestingly, anomocytic stomata complex, cuticular striations, raphide bundles and druses and the adaxial petiole outline separated D. senguine and D. senguine cv. ‘Candida’.

Highlights

Dieffenbachia, commonly known as dumb cane, is the most poisonous genus in the family Araceae, known as the aroid family (Bown, 2000)
Dieffenbachias come in several varieties, one of which is all green (Dieffenbachia oerstedii)
Dieffenbachia picta and D. senguine, have yielded colourful varieties of horticultural interest which are widely dispersed throughout the tropics and as house plants in temperate countries (Simson and Ogorzaly, 1995; Johnson, 1999)

Summary

Introduction

Dieffenbachia, commonly known as dumb cane, is the most poisonous genus in the family Araceae, known as the aroid family (Bown, 2000). The genus Dieffenbachia Schott, tribe Dieffenbachieae, is a small genus of tropical plants that are tall, reaching a height of 6 feet (180 cm) or more and they display fancy, large, more or less variegated leaves. The stems are fleshy, with conspicuous joints. They may be green or somewhat striped with white. The large pointed leaves grow from a central stem, or cane. Dieffenbachia picta is the most common species with deep green leaves and white splotches. Dieffenbachia picta and D. senguine (native to the West Indies), have yielded colourful varieties of horticultural interest which are widely dispersed throughout the tropics and as house plants in temperate countries (Simson and Ogorzaly, 1995; Johnson, 1999)

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