Comparative Taxonomic study on Crotalaria L. from some parts of South-Eastern Nigeria

Morphological and anatomicalcharacteristics of stem, root, petiole, midrib, and lamina of Crotalaria L. found in some parts South-Eastern Nigeria were investigated using microtomy and visual observation to provide additional information to delimit them. Anisocytic, paracytic, anomocytic, tetracytic, one-subsidiary cell and contiguous stomata were recorded among the species. anisocytic was the predominant stomata in the three Crotalaria species studied occurring on the adaxaial and the abaxial leaf surfaces. Tetracytic stomata were observed on the abaxial surfaces of C. goreensis and C. verrucosa but not seen on the leaf surface of C. retusa. Also, contuigous stomata were observed on the abaxial leaf surface of C. goreensis and adaxial surface of C. retusa. Furthermore, stomata in groups of 2 to 3 were recorded on the adaxial surfaces of C. retusa and C. goreensis. On the other hand, stomata with one-subsidiary cell was recorded on the abaxial surface of C. retusa and adaxial surface of C. verrucosa. The average trichome length include 36.58 pm in C. retusa, 56.62 pm in C. retusa and 61.15 pm in C. verrucosa. The hairiness or trichome density among the species varied C. verrucosa (20 - 23 per 100 objective fields of view), C. goreensis (40 - 45 OFV), and C. ratusa (76 - 100 OFV). A combination of morphological and anatomical of petiole, midrib, stem anatomy, and epidermal characters (stomata types, trichome size, and density) varied among the species studied and are diagnostic especially when combined the morphological data.