Abstract
Seeds of 18 species of Indigofera L. were examined with the scanning electron microscope and the light microscope. Macro- and micromorphological characters, including seed shape, colour, size, surface, epidermal cell shape, anticlinal boundaries, outer periclinal cell wall and relief of outer cell walls, are presented. Two types of basic anticlinal cell wall boundaries and two types of relief outer cell walls are recognized and two different shapes of the outer periclinal cell wall are described. A key for the identification of the investigated taxa based on seed characters is provided.
Highlights
Indigofera L. is a large pantropical genus in Fabaceae, belongs to the tribe Galegeae with c. 720 - 730 species [1]
The aim of the present study is to investigate macroand micro-morphological characters of genus Indigofera seeds in Saudi Arabia, using Stereo- and Scanning Electron microscopy, which expected to be reliable for distinguishing the studied taxa
Creamer in I. intricata, deep brown to creamer in I. oblongifolia and brown in the rest of the species
Summary
Indigofera L. is a large pantropical genus in Fabaceae, belongs to the tribe Galegeae with c. 720 - 730 species [1]. The majority of taxa occur in Africa 520) with other centres of diversity in Arabia to South East Asia, Mexico to subtropical North and South America, Australia and Madagascar. About 280 speci es of Indigofera occur in the flora of Southern Africa region [2,3]. Reference [14] discussed features of the Indigofera fruit relevant to the Australian taxa. Reference [6] were the first to recognize that all species have a persistent fruit-base that remains with the calyx and staminal tube after the valves of the open pod have fallen. Reference [1] considered this is a synapomorphy for the tribe. Reference [7] found that all endemic species of Indigofera in Australia have endocarp tannins present except in I. baileyi and I. mackinlayi
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