• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.50-63
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• 2012

A comparative study of the petiole anatomy in the tribes Forsythieae (Abeliophyllum, Forsythia) and Fontanesieae (Fontanesia), including one related genus Myxopyrum belonging to Myxopyreae, was carried out using light microscopy. The anatomical characteristics of the distal, medial and proximal parts of the petiole were studied to document any differences. We are described in detail based on their quantitative and qualitative characteristics. Three crystal types (acicular, druse, and prismatic crystals) were found in both Fontanesia and Myxopyrum within all of the studied taxa. Uni-cellular non-glandular trichomes were found in Abeliophyllum and three Forsythia taxa (F. europaea, F. giraldiana, and F. japonica). All features were compared and the vascular patterns of the petiole were distinguished in two types: Type 1A: Trace continuous arc - without crystals (Abeliophyllum, Forsythia), 1B: with crystals (Myxopyrum), Type 2: Trace invaginating at ends with crystals (Fontanesia). A detailed anatomical description of the studied taxa is provided, and its systematic importance is also briefly discussed. In conclusion, some petiole anatomical characteristics (e.g., the main vascular patterns, the presence/absence of crystals) can be useful for diagnostic features as well as partly for supporting the recently proposed molecular phylogeny.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.118-127
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• 2013

A comparative study of leaf epidermal microstructure in tribes Forsythieae (Abeliophyllum: 1 species, Forsythia: 12 taxa - 10 species, 2 varieties), Fontanesieae (Fontanesia: 2 species) including one related genus Myxopyrum belonging to Myxopyreae (Myxopyrum: 5 taxa - 4 species, 1 subspecies) was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to evaluate their significance in the taxonomy. The leaves of investigated taxa are either hypostomatic or amphistomatic, but former is more frequent. The size range of the guard cells is 17.14-47.58 ${\times}$ 11.59- 44.25 ${\mu}m$: the smallest one was found in Forsythia giraldiana (17.48-22.96 ${\times}$ 11.64-12.88 ${\mu}m$), while the largest one was measured to Myxopyrum pierrei (31.50-41.75 ${\times}$ 32.53-44.25 ${\mu}m$). Anomocytic stomatal complex are most frequent type (rarely paracytic), usually both anomocytic and anisocytic occur in one leaf. In surface view both adaxial and abaxial anticlinal walls of the subsidiary cells are variable (e.g., straight/curved, undulate, sinuate, undulate/sinuate). Three types (simple unicellular and multicellular non-glandular, subsessile glandular) of trichomes are found in leaves. Finally, the systematic significance of the leaf epidermal micromorphological characters in idenfitication and elucidation of these tribe, between or within the genera including among the species is also briefly discussed.