2015, Vol. 3, Issue 4, Part B

author(s)
Clement U Okeke, Chisom F Iroka, Alex I Izundu, Nkumah C Okereke, Chibuike I Onwuasoeze, Bio Louis Nyananyo

abstract
Investigations on the anatomical features of the leaf and petiole of three species of Stachytarpheta (S.angustifolia, S.cayannensis and S.jamaicensis) that were common in Awka, South East Nigeria was made with the aid of a light microscope. Anatomical significant features were found in the leaf and petiole. The leaves and petioles were dorsiventral. The epidermis was conspicuous but one cell thick. The epidermal cells in the leaves were not of uniform size in both surfaces. Chlorenchyma was present as a very narrow portion of the leaves and petiole tissue while the palisade layer was one to three cells thick. These features however, could not proffer any taxonomic relevance to the delimitation of any of the species in this genus.