Petiolar anatomy of eight Nigerian species of Vigna savi (Leguminosae-papilionoideae)

Abstract

An investigation on the petiole anatomy of eight Vigna species namely V.ambacensis, V.gracillis, V. racemosa, V. reticulata, V. subterranea, V. triloba, V. unguiculata and V. vexillata were carried out. Anatomically significant features were found in the petioles of the taxa investigated. The presence of crystal sand crystals in the petioles of V. ambacensis, V. triloba and V. unguiculata distinguished these three taxa from V. gracillis with aggregate crystals and V. racemosa with rectangular and crystal sand crystals. The absence of any form of crystal in the petioles of V. reticulata and V. subterranae is also a taxonomic character that can be used to distinguish these two taxa from the rest of the taxa studied. Another interesting feature of the anatomical studies of the petioles is the similarities in tissue distribution in V. reticulata, V. unguiculata, V. racemosa and V. subterranea suggesting that these taxa have inter specific relationships.

Keywords: Anatomy; Vigna; petiole; species; taxonomy

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 193-196