Taxonomic characteristics of <i>Spinacia oleracea</i> L.

Abstract

The research focused on the taxonomic study and proximate analysis of Spinacia oleracea L. The samples were fixed in formaldehyde acetic acid alcohol, dehydrated in alcohol solutions of 50%, 70% and 90%, sectioned, stained in 2% of Safranin O, counter stained in Alcian blue for 5 minutes, mounted in glycerine and photo-micrographed using Leica WILD MPS 52 camera on Leitz Draplan microscope. The proximate analysis was done using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists’ methods. The result revealed that spinach is glabrous and reach up to 4 to 8ft in length. The foliar organs are simple, ovate to ovate-triangular and alternate to rosette phyllotaxy. Margins are entire to slightly serrated, reticulate veined, up to 5 ± 4 cm in length and 3 ± 2 cm in width. The basal leaves are far larger than the ones towards the apical meristem. The inflorescence has spikelet of actinomorphic flowers pollinated by wind. The fruit is a berry/ drupe. The foliar epidermal study revealed presence of simple elongated, linear and glandular trichomes, and amphistomatic diacytic stomata. Anatomical study showcased a layer of epidermis, hypodermis of 2 to 3 rolls of collenchyma, general cortex of 7 to 10 rolls of parenchyma and the pith of parenchyma. The node is unilacunar with 2 lateral leaf traces and 1 leaf trace median. The proximate compositions of: 0.19 ± 0.00 Carbohydrate (%); 3.75 ± 0.00 Protein (%); 0.02 ± 0.00 Lipid (%); 94.74 ± 0.36 Moisture (%) content; 0.62 ± 0.32 Fiber (%) and 1.18 ± 0.03 Ash (%). These information would assist for further delimitation of the species.