Comparative leaf morphological analysis of 20 species of Chrysobalanaceae

Morphological studies focusing on vegetative traits are useful in identifying species when fertile material is not available. The aim of this study was to assess the application of comparative leaf morphology to identify species of the Chrysobalanaceae family. The morphological observations were mad...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marcos Melo CORRÊA, Veridiana Vizoni SCUDELLER, Maria Gracimar Pacheco de ARAÚJO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia 2015-03-01
Series:Acta Amazonica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aa/v45n1/0044-5967-aa-45-01-00013.pdf
Description
Summary:Morphological studies focusing on vegetative traits are useful in identifying species when fertile material is not available. The aim of this study was to assess the application of comparative leaf morphology to identify species of the Chrysobalanaceae family. The morphological observations were made with a stereomicroscope. We used the diaphanization technique for viewing venation details. It is shown the descriptions of the leaf morphology, illustrations and an identification key for 20 species from genera Couepia, Licania and Parinari (Chrysobalanaceae) occurring in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, Manaus, AM, Brazil. The key was constructed using the DELTA (DEscription Language for TAxonomy) software. Leaf traits such as the presence of intersecondary venation and the type of insertion of secondary veins were recorded for each species. These morphological leaf traits are reliable for identifying species of Chrysobalanaceae
ISSN:0044-5967