Leaf epidermal microcharacteres of the Old World species of Lotus (Fabaceae: Loteae) and their systematic significance.

STENGLEIN S.A., COLARES M.N., ARAMBARRI A.M., NOVOA M.C., VIZCAÍNO C.E. & KATINAS L.

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Año: 2003 vol. 51 p. 459 - 469

0067-1924

Some perennial species of Lotus L. (Leguminosae: Loteae) from the Old World constitute an important forage resource. The epidermal microcharacters of 15 species belonging to the Old World Lotus angustissimus L., L. corniculatus L., L. creticus L. and L. peregrinus L., groups were described to compute the phenetic relatiosnships, and to compare these results with previous classifications and phylogenetic hypotheses. Data on epidermal cells, stomata, stomatal index, and trichomes were recorded and summarized in tables and illustrations. To test the taxonomic value of epidermal features and to establish the phenetic relationships two numerical analyses were performed. Phenograms by the unweighted pair-group method (UPGMA) of clustering were generated. Results of the numerical analysis using a basic data matrix (15 OTUs x 15 epidermal characters) suggested that epidermal characteristics allow to establish species and species groups relationships, however, they were not totally coincident with previous classifications. An additional analysis using epidermal characters plus another morphological characters from leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds led to establish species and species group relationships which were coincident with previous hypotheses