Sains Malaysiana 44(5)(2015): 643–650

 

The Taxonomic Significance of Leaf Micromorphology in the Genus Melastoma L. (Melastomataceae)

(KesignifikananTaksonomi Mikromorfologi Daun dalam Genus Melastoma L. (Melastomataceae))

 

 

NOORMA WATI HARON*, NORDIYANAH ANUAR & RUBASHINY VEERAMOHAN

Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Received: 10 June 2014/Accepted: 9 January 2015

 

 

ABSTRACT

A comparative leaf micromorphological study of Melastoma malabathricum, M. malabathricum var. alba and M. sanguineum (Melastomataceae) was carried out by scanning electron microscope. Characters such as epidermal cell shape, trichomes and stomatal type and distribution were observed. Non-glandular trichomes are present in all species examined. The stomata are all of paracytic type and dispersed randomly over the whole abaxial surface. The patterns of surface sculpturing and outer stomatal rim are unique in all the species examined. Leaf micromorphology has significant taxonomic value in the genus Melastoma and the present study has added some new taxonomic information for the genus Melastoma.

 

Keywords: Melastoma; scanning electron microscope; stomata; taxonomy; trichomes

 

ABSTRAK

Suatu kajian perbandingan mikromorfologi daunMelastoma malabathricum, M. malabathricum var. alba dan M. sanguineum (Melastomataceae) telah dijalankan melalui mikroskop elektron imbasan. Ciri-ciri seperti bentuk sel epidermis, jenis serta taburan stomata dan trikom telah diperhatikan. Trikom tak berglanda hadir dalam semua spesies kajian. Stomata adalah jenis parasitik dan tersebar secara rawak pada keseluruhan permukaan abaksial. Corak pada permukaan dan bibir luar stomata adalah unik dalam kesemua spesies. Mikromorfologi daun mempunyai nilai taksonomi yang signifikan dalam genus Melastoma dan kajian ini telah menambah maklumat baru bagi taksonomi genus Melastoma.

 

Kata kunci: Melastoma; mikroskop elektron imbasan; stomata; taksonomi; trikom

 

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*Corresponding author; email: noorma@um.edu.my