Abstract
Despite the various taxonomic revisions of Abrus Adans., species and infraspecific delimitation are not always clear. In those revisions very little reference is made to micromorphological characters, in particular to those of the compound leaves, in spite of the stability of some of those characters. By using techniques of light and scanning microscopy this study reveals some interesting results concerning to leaflet surface, such as some of the characters of the epidermis cells, stomata, presence of papillae and trichomes. These characters show some range of variation at the species level but not at the subspecies level. We conclude that those structures can provide additional characters useful in Abrus for species and infraspecific segregation. This study also supports Breteler’s delimitation of the African Abrus species.
Highlights
Abrus Adans. is a small natural genus of the Leguminosae family, subfamily Papilionoideae, originated from South Asia (Breteler, 1960; Verdcourt, 1971) and nowadays distributed through tropical and subtropical areas (Kerharo, 1974; Iwu, 1993)
We conclude that those structures can provide additional characters useful in Abrus for species and infraspecific segregation
A decade later, Verdcourt (1971) returned to the existence of seventeen species and several subspecies on the basis of flower characteristics, seed colour and form and leaf indumentum. This multitude is mainly caused by the complex of A. fruticulosus. This species and A. precatorius are circumtropical in distribution and both show a considerable morphological plasticity, in particular A. fruticulosus
Summary
Abrus Adans. is a small natural genus of the Leguminosae family, subfamily Papilionoideae, originated from South Asia (Breteler, 1960; Verdcourt, 1971) and nowadays distributed through tropical and subtropical areas (Kerharo, 1974; Iwu, 1993). Breteler (1960) distinguishes in Africa four species: Abrus fruticulosus Wall. Ex Baker and A. diversifoliolatus Breteler, using leaflet, inflorescence, bract, pod and seed characteristics. A decade later, Verdcourt (1971) returned to the existence of seventeen species and several subspecies on the basis of flower characteristics, seed colour and form and leaf indumentum. This multitude is mainly caused by the complex of A. fruticulosus. This species and A. precatorius are circumtropical in distribution and both show a considerable morphological plasticity, in particular A. fruticulosus.
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