Leaf anatomy of Ceiba chodatii and Ceiba speciosa (Bombacaceae)

PERROTA V., STENGLEIN S.A. & ARAMBARRI A.M.

KURTZIANA

MUSEO BOTÝNICO

Año: 2007 p. 17 - 25

0075-7314

A detailed leaf anatomy study of Ceiba chodatii and C. speciosa was carried out with the purpose to establish some structural leaf traits to distinguish these two closely related species. We studied the epidermal features in surface view and leaflet blade, petiolule and petiole structure in transections. Epidermal and anatomical characteristics are comparable between Ceiba chodatii and C. speciosa. However, some differences were evidenced: (i) the chlorenchyma is exclusively present on the adaxial side in the petiolule and petiole of C. chodatii, whereas the chlorenchyma is distributed on both lateral sides of the petiolule and form a continuous ring in the petiole of C.speciosa; (ii) the petiole of Ceiba chodatii has phloematic fibre walls thicker than the petiole of C. speciosa (5-8 ìm and 2-4.5 ìm, respectively); (iii) the stomatal index constitutes a complementary character to identify the two species having a value of 14-16% in C. chodatii and 12-14% in C. speciosa.