Epidermal Features Research Articles

Epidermal and anatomical studies on Chrysophyllum L. (Sapotaceae) species of South-Eastern Nigeria

The epidermal characters of leaves and anatomical characters of petioles and young stems of some members of the genus Chrysophyllum, viz. C. albidum, C. perpulchrum, C. cainito, and C. delevoyi were analyzed to determine their diagnostic features. Paracytic stomata, crystal sand, prismatic crystals, secretory canals occurred in all the species. All the species are hypostomatic except C. perpulchrum. The midribs of all species have an open semi-circular vascular system except in C. cainito with a closed system. Midrib and petiole of C. albidum and C. cainito have non-glandular T-shaped trichomes. Accessory bundles are only seen in the petioles of C. delevoyi, and in the midribs of C. albidum and C. cainito. The midrib and petiole of C. delevoyi and C. albidum have a central bundle. Laticifers, prismatic and sand crystals occur mainly in the cortical cells, pith cells, xylem, phloem, and mesophyll. Lamina of all species studied showed uniseriate epidermis except C. cainito which has two layers of the adaxial epidermis. The stomatal index, the ratio of the spongy to palisade mesophyll thickness, the ratio of cortex thickness, outline, number, and arrangement of the vascular bundles in the midrib, petiole, and young stem differ and are valuable diagnostic features in Chrysophyllum.
 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 28(1): 217-231, 2021 (June)

Leaf epidermal anatomy of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. in relation to ecotypic adaptation

Qualitative and quantitative studies were done on leaf epidermal characteristics with special reference to stomatal features to find out the impact of environmental condition on twenty four accessions of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. collected from different ecological habitats of Bangladesh. The foliar epidermal peels from both surfaces of mature leaves were observed under microscope. The leaves were found to be amphistomatic and stomata were paracytic type. The epidermal cells in this study were found to be sinuous. Silica bodies were found to be saddle and cross shaped. Prickles angular were pointed at the tip. Macro-hairs were present in all the accessions, but no micro-hair was found both adaxially or abaxially. Stomatal frequency and stomatal index were found to vary from accession to accession on both adaxial and abaxial surface of leaves, and the differences were statistically significant in most of the cases.
 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 28(1): 171-193, 2021 (June)

Foliar epidermal anatomy and its taxonomic implications within the family Euphorbiaceae in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Micro-morphological investigations of the foliar epidermal anatomy of seven species of the family Euphorbiaceae: Acalypha hispidia Burm. f., A. wilkesiana Mull. Arg, Euphorbia heterophylla L., E. hirta L., Jatropha curcas L., J. gossypifolia L. and Manihot esculenta Crantz was carried out to assess the systematic relevance of epidermal features, stomata and trichome diversity within the family using light microscope and camera. Members of this family contain many important medicinal herbs and there has been increasing misidentification of species in this family. Leaf micro-morphological characteristics are commonly used in the identification and authentication of plants. Results showed that the stomatal index varied from species to species. Epidermal cell shapes were found to be irregular to polygonal on both surfaces of the species. The epidermal cells possess straight to undulating anticlinal walls but in some few cases exhibited wavy to straight anticlinal walls. The presence of papillae was observed to be a unique character of E. heterophylla among the species studied. The stomatal types observed were Anisocytic, Anomocytic, Diacytic, tetracytic, paracytic, and actinocytic. The stomatal complex was mainly amphistomatic except for A. wilkesiana that was hypostomatic. The hypostomatic character of A. wilkesiana as reported in this paper is the first of such report as previous report found was amphistomatic. Non-glandular, multiseriate uniseriate and in some cases branched trichome types were observed only on both surfaces of A. wilkesiana and E. hirta but absent on all other studied species. This study revealed detailed descriptive micromorphological structures which could serve as a source of information and reference for the taxonomic description, identification and delineation of the species studied.

English

Apocynaceae sensu lato (s.l.) is treated as distinct family in some taxonomic systems while in others is treated as two separated families viz. Apocynaceae sensu stricto (s.s.) and Asclepiadaceae. So the main objective of the present study was to adopt one of the two views. The morphological characters viz. whole plant, lamina vein architecture and lamina epidermal characters of 20 wild and ornamental species were examined using LM and SEM. The data were numerically analyzed to detect the phenetic relationship among the studied species. DNA barcoding based on the sequencing of rbcL gene was cladistically analyzed to detect the phylogenetic relationship among the studied species. The generated phenogram showed a clear separation of two subseries; one of them belonged to Apocynaceae and the other with the remaining taxa belonging to Asclepiadaceae. The obtained cladogram showed that all of the studied species were divided into four lineages. It is concluded that the phenetic analysis supports the treatment of Apocynaceae s.l. as two distinct families; Apocynaceae s.s. Asclepiadaceae contrary of the phylogenetic one that supports the treatment of Apocynaceae s.s. and Asclepiadaceae as one family (Apocynaceae s.l.) with four subfamilies viz. Apocynoideae, Rauvolfiodeae, Asclepiadoideae and Periplocoideae. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers

Mesofossils with noeggerathialean affinity based on epidermal characteristics from the Mississippian (lower Carboniferous) of Gansu Province, northwestern China

Three types of charcoalified mesofossils with anatomical structures are described from the Serpkhovian (Carboniferous) Jingyuan Formation in northwestern China. They are characterized by fragmental pinnules with apical teeth, dentate lateral margins, and simple stomatal apparati. Epidermal cells on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces are elongated trapezoidal with straight to slightly curved anticlinal walls. The first type has fan-shaped venation with veins extending into each apical tooth individually. Pinnules are amphistomatic. Stomatal apparati are rare on the adaxial surface, distributing sporadically on the apical part. On the abaxial surface, stomatal apparati are densely distributed in intercostal areas. Stomatal pores are oriented parallel to the veins. The second type is featured by the hypostomatic epidermis. Both adaxial and abaxial epidermis are not differentiated. The third type contains epidermis with clearly differentiated costal and intercostal areas. Adaxial and abaxial surfaces are similar in cell morphology and distribution. Pinnules are amphistomatic. Stomatal apparati are constrained within intercostal areas and are denser on the abaxial surface. Dome-shaped papillae are present on periclinal walls of cells in costal areas. These mesofossils are proposed to be of noeggerathialean affinity based both on the gross morphology and epidermal features. It is hypothesized that they represent three different taxa due to their distinct epidermal characteristics. In combination with macrofossil records from the same fossil interval, it confirms that noeggerathialeans were important components of Mississippian floras in China. The mesofossils reveal a probably higher diversity of this plant group than previously documented based only on macrofossils.

Foliar epidermal study on selected medicinal plants used in homeopathy

Background: Homeopathy is a complementary alternative medicine system which was introduced by Samuel Hahnemann in Europe in the last part of the eighteenth century. In homeopathy, drugs are obtained from various source materials such as plants, chemicals, minerals, and animals. However, plants are the major source and about 65% of medicines homeopathic medicines obtained from plants (HPI Vol. I to XI). Authentication and identification of genuine drugs is major concern for manufacturing units/industries. The present study will help to add key parameters in the identification of drugs. Objective: The objective of this study is to characterize the foliar epidermal characteristics of selected plants used in homeopathy. Materials and Methods: The foliar epidermal studies of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa, Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb., Cannabis indica Lam., Cephalandra indica (Wight and Arn.) Naudin, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Gaultheria procumbens L., Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br. ex Sm., Justicia adhatoda L., Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L., and Ricinus communis L. Results: The study showed various characteristic features such as presence or absence of hairs or trichomes, trichomes if present were uni to multicellular, types and size of stomata, stomatal index on dorsal and ventral sides, vein-islet per mm2, vein termination per mm2, and presence or absence of idioblasts, etc. All these features will help in the identification and characterization of medicinal plants. Conclusion: The study revealed that the diversity of foliar characters of the leaf was varying from plant to plant and this variation may be a valuable tool for the authentication and identification of drug.

Epidermal features of the floating leaves of Quereuxia angulata (Newberry) Krištofovič, an aquatic angiosperm from the Upper Cretaceous of Northeast China

Quereuxia angulata (Newberry) Krištofovič 1953, an aquatic herbaceous angiosperm with heterophyllous leaves, is a common element of the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene floras in the Northern Hemisphere. The floating leaves are rosulate and compound with many obovate leaflets while the submerged leaves are usually filiform and dichotomously branched. The leaves of Quereuxia are taxonomically difficult to delineate if only based on their gross morphology. Therefore, acquiring their anatomical information of the leaf epidermis is an important line of evidence for the natural classification of this fossil genus. In this report, we examine the epidermal features of well-preserved floating leaves of Q. angulata, collected from the Upper Cretaceous Yong'ancun Formation in Jiayin County, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China. The leaves are hyperstomatic with brachyparacytic stomata. Both the adaxial and abaxial epidermal cells are usually irregularly pentagonal or hexagonal and sometimes isodiametric in shape. This is the first time that the epidermal features are examined for Quereuxia. The results provide valuable morphological characters in identifying the different species of this extinct genus.

Bennettitalean Leaves From the Permian of Equatorial Pangea—The Early Radiation of an Iconic Mesozoic Gymnosperm Group

Bennettitaleans are an extinct group of gymnosperms that are among the most iconic plants of Earth’s vegetation during the Mesozoic Era. The sudden appearance and rise to dominance of the Bennettitales during the Triassic remains a mystery. Leaf fossils similar to typical bennettitalean foliage occur in late Paleozoic deposits worldwide, but bennettitalean foliage can be identified with certainty only in case the fossils are sufficiently well-preserved to show epidermal features. So far, the characteristic stomatal architecture of the group has never been systematically documented in these putative Paleozoic remains. Here, we present well-preserved bennettitalean leaves from Permian deposits in two widely separated regions of equatorial Pangea. Two species of cuticle-bearing leaf compressions from the late Permian Umm Irna Formation, Jordan, are here formally described asPterophyllum pottiiBomfleur et Kerp sp. nov. andNilssoniopteris jogianaBlomenkemper et Abu Hamad sp. nov. Moreover, bulk maceration of samples from the Umm Irna Formation yielded six additional types of dispersed bennettitalean cuticles that are here informally described. In addition, the Cisuralian (early Permian) uppermost part of the Upper Shihhotse Formation exposed at the Palougou section in Shanxi Province, China, has yielded the oldest unambiguous bennettitalean fossils known to date; they consist of fragments of entire-margined leaves with well-preserved cuticles that we assign toNilssoniopteris shanxiensisBäumer, Backer et Wang sp. nov. Unlike the characteristic puzzle-patterned cuticles typical of many Jurassic and Cretaceous bennettites, the cuticles of these Permian bennettitalean remains show non-sinuous anticlinal walls, greater variety in stomatal orientation, and rare occurrence of transversely divided subsidiary cells—features that have until now almost exclusively been documented from the hitherto oldest cuticle-bearing Triassic bennettitalean material. Finally, the taxonomic richness, disjunct distribution, and broad variety in macro- and micromorphological features in these Permian bennettitalean remains lead us to suspect that the origin of the group will date back still further in time, and might in fact coincide with very early occurrences of Bennettitales-like foliage from the Pennsylvanian and Cisuralian, such asPterophyllum cottaeanum,P. eratum, orP. grandeuryi.

Female reproductive structures of Umaltolepis Krassilov and associated leaves of Pseudotorellia Florin from the Middle Jurassic of East Siberia, Russia

Female organs of Umaltolepis are recorded from the Middle Jurassic of East Siberia for the first time. A new species, Umaltolepis irkutensis, sp. nov., is described from the Aalenian–Bajocian Prisayan Formation of the Irkutsk Coal Basin. It is notable for having papillae on some subsidiary cells of the stomatal complexes, on some ordinary epidermal cells of the middle part of the lobes and on the cells near the lobe bases. Cupules of U. irkutensis were found in association with Pseudotorellia leaves described here as a new species Pseudotorellia irkutensis, sp. nov. Leaves of this species are long and narrow, they are peculiar in possessing predominantly short epidermal cells on the adaxial side of the leaf, ordinary epidermal cells with smooth periclinal walls, stomata arranged in not always clear bands on the abaxial side of the leaf, and the presence of papillae on the subsidiary cells of the stomata. The co-occurrence of U. irkutensis with leaves of P. irkutensis in the same samples from the Irkutsk Basin, as well as their similar epidermal pattern, suggests that these remains most likely belonged to the same Umaltolepis–Pseudotorellia plant. The morphology and epidermal features of Umaltolepis female organs are discussed.

Leaf epidermal studies of four species of Chlorophytum Ker- Gawl in Nigeria

Studies of the foliar epidermal morphology in four species of Chlorophytum; C. orchidastrum, C. bichetii, C. stenopetalum and C. macrophyllum revealed the presence of stomata on both sides of the leaves (amphistomatic stomata distribution). In C. orchidastrum, few stomata are present on the adaxial surfaces. Stomata type has no diagnostic importance as all the species studied have tetracytic stomata. Stomata index (<10%) on the adaxial surface in C. orchidastrum easily distinguished the species from others. In C. bichetii and C. macrophyllum stomata index (<50%) was recorded while stomata index (>50%) was recorded for C. stenopetalum on the adaxial surface. Stomata index on the abaxial surface also shows that fewer stomata occur in C. macrophyllum compared with C. stenopetalum. The studies also revealed smooth leaf margin for C. orchidastrum. Papillea out growth were observed on the leaf margin of C. stenopetalum and C. macrophyllum, Papillea projections were however more pronounced in C. bichetii. Leaf epidermal character is hereby indicated as an important tool in delimiting species in the genus Chlorophytum.
 Keywords: Chlorophytum, stomata, epidermal cells, anatomy, foliar morphology.

Строение эпидермы листьев современных гнетовых (Gnetum L.) и среднеюрских беннеттитовых (Nilssoniopteris Nathorst и Ptilophyllum Morris)

The leaf epidermis of four species of Gnetum L. and four species of the Jurassic Bennettitales (Nilssoniopteris Nathorst and Ptilophyllum Morris) were studied. In addition to the description of qualitative characters, the analysis of various quantitative characters was carried out using statistical methods. Coefficients of variation for quantitative characters of the epidermal structure in Gnetum range from 6.4 to 24.0%, in Ptilophyllum from 15.7 to 63.5%, in Nilssoniopteris from 18.0 to 39.9%. The sinuosity of tangential cell walls of the epidermal cells in the upper and lower epidermis is the stable character in both groups of plants (Cv ≤ 18.0%). In Ptilophyllum and Gnetum, the length of stomata demonstrates a low level of common variability (Cv ≤ 16.8%). A significant range in the coefficients of variation in both Gnetum and the studied genera of Bennettitales is typical for the number of epidermal cells per 1 mm2 of the upper and lower epidermis (17.5% ≤ Cv ≤ 31.9%), the area of the epidermal cells of the upper and lower epidermis (21.2% ≤ Cv ≤ 63.5%), and the number of stomata per 1 mm2 of the epidermis (29.3% ≤ Cv ≤ 39.9%). The similarity in the correlation structure of epidermal characters is manifested in the correlation between sinuosity of tangential cell walls of epidermal cells, the number of stomata per 1 mm2 of the epidermis, and size of epidermal cells, as well as between the length of the stomata and the number of epidermal cells and also between the stomatal index and the number of cells in epidermis. In Gnetum, the ratio of the number of differentiated stomata correlates with the number of aborted stomata per 1 mm2 of epidermis. In N. angustifolia and P. caucasicum, the number of stomata correlates with the number of papillae per 1 mm2.

Visualization of micromorphology of petal epidermal features of waxy and velvety flowers in Phalaenopsis

Visualization of micromorphology of petal epidermal features of waxy and velvety flowers in Phalaenopsis

Leaf epidermal features in relation to taxonomy of some species of Bulbophyllum (Orchidaceae) from Northeast India

Leaf epidermal features in relation to taxonomy of some species of Bulbophyllum (Orchidaceae) from Northeast India

Histopathological characteristics and CD163 immunostaining pattern in fibrous papule of the face.

Signs of inflammation including epidermal interface changes, spongiosis, and dermal inflammation as well as pagetoid dyskeratosis are rarely described in fibrous papule (FP). We aimed to describe the inflammatory parameters, the rate of pagetoid dyskeratosis, along with CD163 immunohistochemical staining as an adjunctive diagnostic tool in FP. Histopathology samples of all biopsy-proven FP cases were retrieved from archives and investigated for inflammatory parameters, presence of pagetoid dyskeratosis, as well as CD163, CD10, and CD34 immunostaining pattern of dermal spindle/stellate or multinucleate cells (graded from 0 to 4). Thirty-two cases of FP were identified. A high rate of inflammatory parameters including interface changes (20/32), spongiosis (31/32), and dermal lymphocytic inflammation (31/32) were detected. Pagetoid dyskeratosis was identified in eight out of 32 cases (25%). A grade 4 staining revealing a strong dendritic pattern was confirmed in all FP cases with CD163 immunohistochemistry including atypical variants such as granular FP, compared with CD10 (11/32) and CD34 (3/32). The dendritic cellular proliferation in FP may represent an inflammatory response to various stimuli; pagetoid dyskeratosis is a relatively common and underrecognized epidermal feature and CD163 immunostaining may be used as an adjunctive diagnostic tool in unusual histopathological subtypes.

A new species of Phoenicopsis (Leptostrobales) from the Maastrichtian–Danian of Chukotka, Russia

A new species, Phoenicopsis anadyrensis Nosova, is described based on the leaf morphology and cuticle features from the Maastrichtian–Danian Rarytkin Formation, Chukotka, North-East of Russia. It is characterized by hypostomatic leaves with stomatal bands on the abaxial side, undulate anticlinal epidermal cell walls and papillae on the epidermal cells and on the subsidiary cells of the stomata. The new species is the youngest reliable representative of the genus Phoenicopsis. This record extends the stratigraphic range of Phoenicopsis from its previously known latest records in the early Campanian up to Maastrichtian–Danian. The persistence of the genus Phoenicopsis up to the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary is most likely related with vicinity to mountain floras associated with Late Cretaceous and Paleogene volcanic uplands.

Taxonomic implications of leaf epidermis in halophytes of Amaranthaceae from Salt Range of Punjab, Pakistan

The leaf epidermal anatomy of 15 salt-tolerant plant species belonging to the Amaranthaceae from the Salt Range of Punjab-Pakistan was studied using light microscopy (LM). The main purpose of this investigation was to compare the leaf micro-morphologies of the studied taxa, which can provide diagnostic characters useful for correct identification of halophytic taxa. Various quantitative and qualitative foliar epidermal features of adaxial and abaxial surfaces, including epidermal cell shape, anticlinal wall pattern, lobes per cell, anomocytic, anisocytic, and paracytic types of stomata and trichome diversity, were studied. Eight types of trichomes reported for the halophytes studied i.e. stellate, glandular, conical, capitate, non-capitate, non-glandular, cylindrical, and falcate. The shapes of epidermal cells found are pentagonal, polygonal, irregular, wavy, and tetragonal. This is the first report on leaf epidermal micromorphology of halophytes of family Amaranthaceae of Salt Range of Punjab. The findings revealed that leaf epidermal features showed adequate variations among genera distinguishing the halophytic taxa of family Amaranthaceae.

Scanning electron microscopic screening; Can it be a taxonomic tool for identification of traditional therapeutic plants.

The limiting factor in the utilization of herbal medicine is the risk of replacement or substitution of their plant resources. Therefore, the authentication of medicinal plants before its use in herbal medicines is essentially required. Hence, the prime objective of this study was to provide some reliable morpho-anatomical and morpho-palynological tools for the identification of nine traditional therapeutic plants of district Lahore. For this study, scanning electron microscopic and light microscopic approaches has been employed. Results reported great variations in qualitative and quantitative morpho-anatomical features of the epidermal cell, stomatal complexes, trichomes, silica bodies and oil droplets. For example, Aegle marmelos L. can be distinguished from Cestrum diurnum L. based on epidermal cell shapes, as irregular cells in former and lobed cells shape in later one. Similarly unicellular, bicellular, and multicellular trichomes could be an identification basis for Cynodon dactylon L., Lantana camara L., and Pongamia pinnata L., respectively. In combination with these morpho-anatomical characters, SEM-based morpho-palynological characterization also reported diagnostic value. Both the Aegle marmelos and Lantana camara possessed similar cell shape (irregular) but can be delimited based on their pollen morphology as spheroidal pollen was reported in Aegle marmelos whereas prolate in Lantana camara. Moreover, quantitative characters also aid well for species delimitation, such as prolate pollen found in both Cestrum diurnum and Terminalia chebula Retz. but both of these varied in their P/E ratio, that is, 0.97 and 0.88, respectively. The leaf epidermal characters in correlation with morph-palynological traits showed potential for taxonomic resolution at the species level. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This study provides valuable morpho-anatomical and morpho-palynological tools for the nine traditional therapeutic plants of the district, Lahore, Pakistan. Light and scanning electron microscopic studies provided useful systematic data for the identification of studied plants. This systematic data include moprho-anatomical and morpho-palynological keys for the studied plants. This data can be used for future identification purposes.

Latest Permian Peltasperm Plant From Southwest China and Its Paleoenvironmental Implications

A monospecific flora containing a peltasperm species, Germaropteris martinsii, is discovered from the uppermost Permian Kayitou Formation of Southwest China. The epidermal characteristics of G. martinsii from the South China Block are described for the first time on the basis of charcoalified specimens. The plant is characterised by small, leathery foliage with prominent papillate epidermal cells and slightly sunken stomata. The stomatal apertures are covered by the long papillae of the surrounding subsidiary cells. The specific epidermal traits suggest that G. martinsii is a highly environmentally tolerant taxon that probably formed monospecific communities during the dramatic degradation of the peat-forming rainforest ecosystems. The frequent appearance of charcoalified leaves in the flora demonstrates that intense wildfires were prevalent at the time. The appearance and reflectance value (1.33%) of these charcoalified leaves reveal that they were formed at temperatures of 450–500°C during brief surface fires. Our study indicates that the terrestrial ecosystems may have been frequently subjected to desiccation and was vulnerable to the spread of fires as a result of the end-Permian biotic crisis in the tropics of the eastern Tethys region.

Comparative leaf micromorphology ofDrypetesandPutranjiva(Putranjivaceae) and its taxonomic significance

AbstractPutranjivaceae are a pantropically distributed but poorly known glucosinulate-producing family of three genera (Drypetes, Putranjiva and Sibangea), previously included in Euphorbiaceae subfamily Phyllanthoideae. Characters of the leaf epidermis were previously suggested as being of infrafamilial taxonomic relevance, but epidermal features of the three genera have not so far been compared in the light of the phylogenetic relationships recovered by molecular data. Therefore, we compared the leaf micromorphology of 44 (out of c. 200) Drypetes spp. and two (out of three) Putranjiva spp. using light microscopy. Our findings revealed that there are more stomata types than previously reported in both genera. We also present a new record of stomatal complexes and epidermal cell characteristics. The cell wall ornamentation character on both surfaces of the epidermis is useful for distinguishing D. aframensis subsp. aframensis. Based on a combination of the studied characters, doubtful species of Drypetes and Putranjiva are recognizable as belonging to the two genera, and this will require taxonomic and nomenclatural adjustments. Other taxonomically useful characters are trichome distribution and types and leaf areole shape and tertiary veins branching patterns that appear to be relatively constant across the two genera. Oil droplets located within the cell lumen in Putranjiva differentiates it from Drypetes, where they inwardly streak the epidermal walls among other features. Thus, our study provides evidence that the investigated leaf micromorphological characters are useful for distinguishing the species of the two genera, and they corroborate the existing infrageneric classification of Drypetes that was based on exomorphology.

Comparative foliar epidermal morphology of Isolona Engl. (Annonaceae)

A qualitative micromorphological assessment of the seven species of Isolona occurring in Nigeria and the Cameroons was undertaken with the aid of light microscope. The stomatal cells are particularly useful, providing stable characters which can be reliably employed in distinguishing the species. Hypostomatic leaves and paracytic stomatal type are generic constant. Possession of only paracytic stomata is characteristic of I. dewevrei whereas other species may have in addition another type such as 1+2 laterocytic stomatal type found only in I. zenkeri and presence of brachyparacytic stomata which shows relatedness of I. campanulata, I. congolana, I. hexaloba, I. pleurocarpus and I. thonneri. The epidermal surfaces appeared glabrous but an indication of hairs is shown by the presence of a glandular trichome base only in I. hexaloba. The epidermal cell characters such as epidermal cell shapes and anticlinal wall patterns seem to intergrade and they are not as definite as the stomatal cells. However, a combination of these features will be helpful in defining the species better and their leaf fragments can be differentiated based on the various characters studied for effective utilization in herbal medicinal research.