Leaf morphology of the imbricate-leaved Podocarpaceae

Abstract

The leaf arrangement and cuticular micromorphology of living species of the Podocarpaceae with an imbricate leaf arrangement demonstrates that generic determination is possible on this basis alone. This is of particular interest in Dacrydium, Halocarpus, Lepidothamnus and Lagarostrobos, which until recently were considered to be monogeneric. However, the two species of Lagarostrobos differ significantly from one another in these features, which further supports the view that these species should not be in the same genus. This study demonstrates the utility of this approach for determining the affinities of fossil imbricate-leaved podocarps which have only the vegetative parts preserved.