Systematic studies of the anatomy of the genus Acrotriche R.BR. I. The leaf

Abstract

The leaves of the 12 species of Acrotriche (Epacridaceae) have been examined anatomically from a systematic standpoint. It has been possible to distinguish between the species on the basis of leaf characteristics alone. These distinctions have been outlined in the form of a key to the species, and discussed fully in individual specific descriptions. The most valuable diagnostic characters are: presence or absence of papillose differentiation; shape of the leaf; shape of the sheath of fibres supporting the vascular bundle; presence or absence of a parenchymatous sheath around the bundles; and the presence or absence of calcium oxalate crystals and large fat globules. The specific delimitations based on the leaf anatomy agree with the morphological boundaries.