Abstract

GUTIERREZ, Jorge; SALGADO, Jesús; GREGO-VALENCIA, Dalia  and  TERRAZAS, Teresa. Foliar morphology and anatomy of genera in the Milla complex (Themidaceae). Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2015, vol.86, n.3, pp.652-660. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmb.2015.06.008.

The aims of this study were to describe and compare foliar morphology and anatomy of the Milla complex genera (Themidaceae), in order to identify the foliar features that allow differentiating them. In addition, foliar variation was compared among genera and species with emphasis in Milla biflora . Field and herbarium samples were prepared with the paraffin microtechnique. Leaves are linear, mainly terete or subterete, except for Dandya balsensis , D. thadhowardii and Petronymphe with triangular shape and for some populations of M. biflora with flat shape. The lamina, seen in transverse section, has a depress-obovate shape, but 3 species have obtriangular. Metaxylem in a "t" shape is unique of Bessera and allows differentiating Bessera from the other genera with metaxylem in a "v" shape. Unique characters for the remainder genera of the complex were not found. With the exception of D. hanniballi, M. mexicana, M. potosina , and M. biflora mesophyll has a hollow in the other species of the Milla complex. Foliar anatomy allows to recognizing some species based make it a unique combination of characters.

Keywords : Asparagales; Vascular bundle; Epidermal Protuberance; Terete.

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