Non-glandular Hairs of Small-flowered Taxa in Epimedium (Berberidaceae) from China and Their Taxonomic Significance

Non-glandular hairs on the leaf epidermis of 15 species and 1 variety of small-flowered taxa of Epimedium in China have been examined with digital camera micrographic technique. The result reveals that the non-glandular hairs in Epimedium are distinctive among species and can be used in the taxonomy of the genus. A key to the species in China is proposed based on the characters of non-glandular hairs, which may be applicable for the identification and recognition of medicinal herbs of the genus.