Abstract
Presented here is an alternative method of identification for species of the Neotropical palm genus Syagrus. It makes use of anatomical characters found in the leaflet margins and can be used for identification when few other vegetative or reproductive morphological characters are available. This anatomical study demonstrates the vast diversity found in a single palm genus and may also help to gain understanding of some possible relationships within the genus.
Highlights
The following is meant to be a supplement to a revision of Syagrus (Noblick 2017)
Horn et al (2009) took it a step further and mapped lamina anatomy on the phylogenetic tree for the palm family based on plastid sequence data (Asmussen et al 2006) in order to understand the evolution of lamina anatomy
Environment definitely plays a part in this variation as seen in S. harleyi (Figure 5) where the low elevation form has a sclerenchymous hypodermis on the margins and along the adaxial surface making it more drought resistant, while the high elevation form has a sclerenchymous margin, but has less sclerenchymous tissue along the adaxial surface
Summary
The following is meant to be a supplement to a revision of Syagrus (Noblick 2017). Palm leaflet anatomy has been useful in identification and has been used to suggest systematic relationships in the family. Tomlinson (1961) examined and described the leaflet anatomy of some 250 species of palms in 137 genera and suggested systematic relationships among genera. Horn et al (2009) took it a step further and mapped lamina anatomy on the phylogenetic tree for the palm family based on plastid sequence data (Asmussen et al 2006) in order to understand the evolution of lamina anatomy. Palm leaflet anatomy has been useful in identification and has been used to suggest systematic relationships in the family. Tomlinson (1961) examined and described the leaflet anatomy of some 250 species of palms in 137 genera and suggested systematic relationships among genera. Horn et al (2009) took it a step further and mapped lamina anatomy on the phylogenetic tree for the palm family based on plastid sequence data (Asmussen et al 2006) in order to understand the evolution of lamina anatomy. Tomlinson’s brief survey (Tomlinson 1961) inspired Glassman to examine anatomy of Copyright Larry R.
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