Abstract
Cuticle micromorphology of leaves from all 20 species of the Southern Hemisphere conifer genus Araucaria de Jussieu was studied with scanning electron microscopy. Both juvenile and adult foliage and herbarium and preserved leaves were examined. External and internal features of abaxial and adaxial cuticles are characterized for the four recognized sections of the genus. External cuticle surfaces exhibit irregular platelets of waxlike material and stomatal plugs. Sunken stomata occur in discontinuous rows and have three to seven subsidiary cells. Epidermal cells are usually rectangular with pitted cuticle surfaces. Guard cell surfaces are reticulate to smooth, and prominent polar extensions occur in some species. Distinguishing characters useful at the levels of genus, section, and species are outlined.
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