Abstract
A systematic survey of the leaf anatomy of 51 taxa in the palm genus Syagrus was made. Cross sections of the middle pinnae of each taxon were embedded, cut, stained, and mounted on slides. Criteria used to distinguish species were based mainly on differences in the laminar surface and hypodermis: frequency and location of various sized veins; frequency, shape, and location of nonvascular fibers; size and shape of midrib and main vascular bundle; and size and shape of expansion cell tissue. The included key to the species employs mostly these characteristics. Each taxon is listed under subgenera and sections in the order presented in a previous article, where gross morphology was used as the basis of classification. Relationships between species of each subgenus and section are discussed in terms of the original arrangement of each group and needed changes. It is significant that certain evolutionary sequences have become unfolded which were not apparent by use of morphological characters alone. Although all relationships have not been completely worked out, this survey has resulted in a revision of my original classification of the genus Syagrus and at the same time has also corroborated certain alignments of species previously based on gross morphology.
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