A preliminary systematic analysis of leaf epidermal characters for six Smilax species in Thailand

Bruce Roger Moore^a,*, Theeraporn Moore^a, Nual-Anong Narkkong^b

ABSTRACT: Accurate identification of Smilax (Smilacaceae) species in Thailand is mostly dependent on plants of both sexes being collected in the right reproductive phase. To explore an alternative method, abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces of six Smilax species were examined for delimiting architecture. Five taxa have individually unique abaxial reticulums and all species presented different abaxial ornamentation such as papillae, granulae, and bullae. Likewise, stomatal ultra-structure varied remarkably between each species. These results strongly suggest that at least some Thai Smilax possess taxonomically useful cuticular features.

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^a	Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, 44150, Thailand
^b	Instrumentation Lab, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, 44150, Thailand

* Corresponding author, E-mail: br-moore@hotmail.com

Received 12 Jan 2010, Accepted 2 Jul 2010

A preliminary systematic analysis of leaf epidermal characters for six Smilax species in Thailand

Bruce Roger Moorea,*, Theeraporn Moorea, Nual-Anong Narkkongb

Bruce Roger Moore^a,*, Theeraporn Moore^a, Nual-Anong Narkkong^b