Resumen de Leaf epidermal morphology of Diospyros (Ebenaceae) in Nigeria

Omokafe A. Ugbogu, James D. Olowokudejo, Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe

• The genus Diospyros L. belongs to Ebenaceae, with 30 species in Nigeria, that are either trees or shrubs, characterized by simple, estipulate, entire-margin leaves, without latex. The heartwood yields some commercial black ebony. The observed variations in the comparative study of leaf epidermis included: cell shapes ranging from irregular, polygonal to isodiametric; anticlinal cell wall pattern which is straight, curved, slightly wavy, wavy, or very wavy; cell wall thickness between 1.30 µm to 5.50 µm; cell wall ornamentations, present or absent; cuticular striations, present or absent; coronulated papillae, present or absent; stomata types, anomocytic, polycytic, cyclocytic to staurocytic; and trichome types, glandular to non-glandular.