Abstract
Abstract: A Foliar anatomical study of five Kalanchoe species in Nigeria
was carried out for taxonomic purposes. The study tends to provide
anatomical information on Nigerian Kalanchoe species, for the purpose of
documentation and delimiting the taxa studied. Matured fresh samples of
the leaves of Kalanchoe crenata (Andr.) Haw, Kalanchoe gastonis-boonieri
Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier , Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken, Bryophyllum
delagoense (Eckl. and Zeyh.) Schinz, Bryophyllum houghtonii (D.B Ward)
P.I.Forst were used. Epidermal peels and transverse sections were
carried out according to standard procedures. Unifying and diagnostic
characters important for the taxonomy of the selected five species of
the genus Kalanchoe were identified. Unifying characters include
amphistomatic leaves, a non-pitted anticlinal wall, mesophyll not
differentiated into palisades and a spongy layer. Diagnostic characters
such as uniseriate to multiseriate epidermis in Bryophyllum houghtonii.
The study provides concise information on the anatomical attributes of
the epidermis and transverse section of the leaf of the Kalanchoe
species studied