FREID, ETHAN. Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056. - Leaf anatomy of the tribe Coccolobeae (Polygonaceae).
Leaf anatomy, including leaf clearings, of Antigonon,
Brunnichia, Coccoloba, Muehlenbeckia, and
Podopterus was investigated. These genera have historically
been united within the tribe Coccolobeae. Twelve anatomical features
were compared among 39 species. Despite many similarities in cell
types and venation patterns, a number of interesting trends were
apparent. Variation among the genera involves the presence of
tanniniferous idioblasts, prismatic crystals, collenchyma,
sclerenchyma, and hypodermal layers. Leaf clearing data was not
conclusive at the intrageneric level but was instructive in
differentiating species within Brunnichia and
Podopterus. Additionally, in Coccoloba diversifolia the
relationship between leaf morphology and leaf anatomy was
investigated. The data supports previous hypotheses that the
variation in leaf shape is partially due to varying levels of
sunlight.
Key words: anatomy, Coccolobeae, leaf, Polygonaceae, systematics