FOLIAR CHARACTERISTICS AS AN AID FOR THE SPECIFIC DELIMITATION OF THE GENUS CLEOME L. (CLEOMACEAE) FROM PAKISTAN

Leaf morphology and epidermal characters (including stomata and trichomes) of 11 species of the genus Cleome L. from Pakistan were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The genus Cleome is characterised by the presence of amphistomatic leaves with great polymorphism in shape. Amongst the stomatal type, actinocytic and anomocytic stomata are most prevalent in the genus Cleome. While, anisocytic type is exclusive for C. ariana and paracytic type is the characteristic of C. brachycarpa. All the species of the genus Cleome have different types of indumentum with the exception of C. oxypetala. Among the types of indumentum glandular hairy type is most dominant within the genus. Similarly, the quantitative characters of leaves such as, leaf size (6 - 80 x 1 - 20 mm) and stomatal frequency (154 to 769 stomata/mm2) are well correlated with that of the qualitative features of leaves to strengthen the delimitation of Pakistani species belonging to the genus Cleome.

Automated summary

Leaf morphology and epidermal characters of 11 species of the genus Cleome from Pakistan were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The study found that Cleome is characterised by amphistomatic leaves with great polymorphism in shape, with actinocytic and anomocytic stomata being most prevalent. Glandular hairy type of indumentum is the most dominant within the genus, and quantitative characters such as leaf size and stomatal frequency are well correlated with the qualitative features of leaves.