A study of leaf epidermis on Pycreus and Lipocarpha in Fujian

The leaf epidermis structures of 4 species of Pycreus and 2 species of Lipocarpha from Fujian Province in China have been examined under LM and SEM. The stomatal size,stomatal density and stomatal index were measured and counted under LM, and under SEM,the shape of stomata,cuticular membrane and outer stomatal ledge (or rim)and trichome were described.The results show that under LM,the types of stomatal apparatuse of paracytic type,the characters between four species of Pycreus such as the stomatal size,stomatal density and stomatal index are different to a large degree.These different micromorphological characters of leaf epidermis are useful to identifying some group of Pycreus.The characters between species of Lipocarpha such as the stomatal density and stomatal index,shape and pattern of anticlinal walls of epidermis cells are largely different.Furthermore,4 speies of Pycreus as well as 2 speies of Lipocarpha are also different in outer stomatal ledge (or rim) and cuticular membrane under SEM.