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Issue: Vol. 705 No. 3: 17 Jun. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-06-17
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.705.3.1
Page range: 235-246
Abstract views: 130
PDF downloaded: 112

Leaf anatomy of four endemic species of the Cladocolea-Struthanthus complex (Loranthaceae) from Guerrero, Mexico

Maestría en Biología Integrativa de la Biodiversidad y la Conservación, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62209, Mexico
Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62209, Mexico
Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62209, Mexico
cristarque cells crystal sand polyphenolic compounds sclereids trichomes Eudicots

Abstract

The Cladocolea-Struthanthus complex was established by Kuijt (1975) due to the morphological similarities between both genera. This study analyzed the leaf anatomy of four endemic species of this complex from Guerrero, Mexico. The aim was to identify anatomical features to support taxonomic studies within the species studied. Leaf anatomy of Cladocolea kuijtii, C. molotensis, C. spathiflora and S. racemosus was compared from transverse leaf sections. The cuticle is generally smooth and fimbriate. The epidermis is one-layered, occasionally with trichomes in C. kuijtii and C. molotensis. All analyzed species are amphistomatic and isobilateral, consisting of palisade parenchyma. The sclerenchyma is represented by brachysclereids, cristarque cells and astrosclereids. Crystals such as prism and druses were observed. In Cladocolea spathiflora, crystal sand is reported for the first time in Loranthaceae. A dichotomous key was constructed using anatomical characters to assist recognition of endemic Cladocolea and Struthanthus species. The taxonomic importance of these characters is discussed for the complex and for the family.

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How to Cite

Hernández-Salazar, M., Cerros-Tlatilpa, R., Sandoval-Zapotitla, E. & Flores-Morales, A. (2025) Leaf anatomy of four endemic species of the Cladocolea-Struthanthus complex (Loranthaceae) from Guerrero, Mexico. Phytotaxa 705 (3): 235–246. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.705.3.1