TY - JOUR AU - EKEKE, Chimezie AU - OGAZIE, Chinedum A. AU - NICHODEMUS, Cornelius O. PY - 2020/06/29 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Taxonomic study on Lindernia All. (Linderniaceae) from some parts of South Eastern Nigeria JF - Notulae Scientia Biologicae JA - Not Sci Biol VL - 12 IS - 2 SE - Research articles DO - 10.15835/nsb12210657 UR - https://www.notulaebiologicae.ro/index.php/nsb/article/view/10657 SP - 301-317 AB - <p style="text-align: justify;">The morpho-anatomical characteristics of <em>Lindernia diffusa </em>var.<em> diffusa-</em>in E. &amp; P<em>.</em>,<em> L. oliveriana</em> (Benth.) Wettst. and <em>L. crustacea </em>(L.) F. Muell.) were investigated with a view of providing additional line of evidence in the delimitation of the species in Nigeria. The specimens were subjected to microtomy. The anatomy, fruit morphology, leaf shape, number of fruits per node and, flower colour differed among the species. The species have two trichome types (glandular and non-glandular) with varying number of gland head and basal cells. The glandular trichomes have 4-7 gland heads and 4-8 basal cells while the non-glandular type-1 and 2 trichomes with 5-10 basal cells. Type-1 non-glandular trichome occurred in <em>L. crustacean </em>and <em>L. diffusa </em>var. <em>diffusa</em> while type-2 occurred in <em>L. oliveriana.</em> The palisade and spongy mesophylls are 1-layer and 3-5 layers respectively in <em>L. diffusa </em>var.<em> diffusa, </em>1-2 layers and 4-6 layers in <em>L. oliveriana </em>and 2-3 layers and3 layers in <em>L. crustacea</em>. The palisade and spongy mesophylls are poorly differentiated. Two to five vascular bundles at the basal and distal ends of the petioles were observed in the <em>Lindernia </em>species with the main vascular bundle forming circular-united or fussed vascular bundles in <em>L. diffusa </em>var.<em> diffusa </em>and <em>L. crustacea</em> and arced or horizontally elongated vascular bundle separated by parenchymatous rays in <em>L. oliveriana.</em> In <em>L. diffusa </em>var. <em>diffusa, </em>the pith covered 55.99% of the stem, 24.27% in <em>L. crustacea</em> and 72.74% in <em>L. oliveriana. </em>These characters could be used to delimit the species studied.</p> ER -