Studies on epidermal micromorphology of eight genera in Annonaceae from China by SEM

The epidermal micromorphological characters of 8 genera with 28 species of plants in Annonaceae were comparatively studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that epidermal micromorphological characters among 8 genera were relatively stable at genus level. For example, there are 4 types of hairs in 8 genera, Uvaria possesses stellate hairs, Goniothalamus has both peltate and filiform hairs, and Anaxagorea possesses clavate hairs , other genera only possess filiform hairs; abaxial epidermal cells of all species in Fissistigma are papillose; the stomata apparatuses appear double rims in Artabotrys ; in Mitrephora and Oncodostigma the stomata apparatuses are obviously raised over the level of unspecialized epidermal cells, but in the former the anticlinal walls of epidermal cells are straight and cuticular surface is very smooth, in the latter the anticlinal walls of cells are sinuate and some of stomata are covered with cuticule; and in Pseuduvaria the cuticular pattern around stomata apparatus is bulge ridges. Therefore, according to above mentioned micromorphological differences of leaves 8 genera can be identified each other.