Journal of Plant Sciences

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Identification of the Genus Phyllanthus (Family Phyllanthaceae) in Southern Nigeria Using Comparative Systematic Morphological and Anatomical Studies of the Vegetative Organs

Received: 06 April 2015    Accepted: 25 April 2015    Published: 11 May 2015
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Abstract

Five species of Phyllanthus L. Family Phyllanthaceae occurring in Southern Nigeria, P. amarus Schum and Thonn, P. urinaria Linn., P. odontadenius Mull-Arg., P. niruroides Mull-Arg. and P. muellerianus (O. Ktze) Excell were compared using the morphology and anatomy with the view to adding to increasing the systematic lines of evidence and providing a more natural clarification than the existing one. The foliar and floral morphology of these species were described while the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem and root are valuable characters in delimiting the species. The results obtained from the studies showed that species of Phyllanthus have different attributes in their vascular characteristics that could be used together with other existing systematic evidence in clarifying the confusion in identifying these plants. Evidence from the nature of the palisade parenchyma in the mesophyll, nature of the collenchyma, sclerenchyma and vascular bundles are presented and discussed with their values in the systematic positions of these plants. A dichotomous bracketed key to the identification of the species studied is provided.

DOI 10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15
Published in Journal of Plant Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2015)
Page(s) 137-149
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Phyllanthus species, Morphology, Anatomy, Taxonomic Evidence

References
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[5] Cutler, D. F. (1978) Applied Plant Anatomy. Longman, London. 102 p.
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[8] Edeoga, H. O., Omosun, G., Osuagwu, G. G. and Awomukwu, D. A. (2007). Anatomical Features of vegetative organs of Phyllanthus species. Environ & Ecology., 25 (3): 548-553
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[11] Kathriarachchi, H., Hoffmann, P., Samuel, R., Wurdack, K. J. and Chase, M. W. (2005). Molecular phylogenetics of Phyllanthaceae inferred from five genes (plastid atpB, matK, 30ndhF, rbcL, and nuclear PHYC). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 36: 112–134.
[12] Lawson, J. R. S (1967). A Key to the Dioscorea species in Nigeria. J. West Afr. Sci. Asso., 12:1-9
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[14] Metcalfe, C. R. and Chalk, L. (1950).Anatomy of the Dicotylendons. Clarendon Press, Oxford, London
[15] Natural Remedies Research Centre (2006). Phyllanthus amarus Master Document. Quality Control Dept. Hosur Road, Bangalore. 61 p.
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[18] Samuel, R., Kathriarachchi, H., Hoffmann, P., Barfuss, M. H. J., Wurdack, K. J., Davis, C. C. and Chase, M. W. (2005). Molecular phylogenetics of Phyllanthaceae: evidence from plastid matK and nuclear PHYC sequences. American Journal of Botany, 92: 132–141.
[19] Sofowara, A (1993) Medicinal plants and Tradiocinal medicine in Africa, Spectrum Books LTD. Ibadan, Nigeria. 289 p.
[20] Stace, C. A. (1980) Plant Anatomy and Biosystematics. Edward Arnold Publishers, London. 279 p.
[21] Uander, D. W. and Blumberg, B. S. (1991). In vitro activity of Phyllanthus species (Euphorbiaceae) against the DNA polymerase of hepatitis virus; effect of growing environment and inter and intra-specific differences. Economy Botany, 45: 225-242.
[22] Wessels-Boer, J. G., Hekking, W. H. A and Schulz, J. P. (1976) Fa Joe Kantak’ mi no moi. Inleiding in de flora en vegetative van Suriname; Deel I en II “Why do say that I am not beautiful”. Introduction to the flora and vegetation of Suriname; Part I and II” Natuurgidsserie B. No. 4 Stinasu Paramaribo
[23] Wurdack, K. J., Hoffmann, P., Samuel, R., De Bruijn, A. Y., Van Der Bank, M. and Chase, M. W. (2004). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Phyllanthaceae (Phyllanthoideae pro parte, Euphorbiaceae sensulato) using plastid rbcL DNA sequences. American Journal of Botany, 91:1882–1900.
Author Information
  • Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

  • Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

  • Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

  • Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

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    Daniel Azubuike Awomukwu, Bio Louis Nyananyo, Chiedozie Joel Uka, Clement Uwabunkeonye Okeke. (2015). Identification of the Genus Phyllanthus (Family Phyllanthaceae) in Southern Nigeria Using Comparative Systematic Morphological and Anatomical Studies of the Vegetative Organs. Journal of Plant Sciences, 3(3), 137-149. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15

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    ACS Style

    Daniel Azubuike Awomukwu; Bio Louis Nyananyo; Chiedozie Joel Uka; Clement Uwabunkeonye Okeke. Identification of the Genus Phyllanthus (Family Phyllanthaceae) in Southern Nigeria Using Comparative Systematic Morphological and Anatomical Studies of the Vegetative Organs. J. Plant Sci. 2015, 3(3), 137-149. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15

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    AMA Style

    Daniel Azubuike Awomukwu, Bio Louis Nyananyo, Chiedozie Joel Uka, Clement Uwabunkeonye Okeke. Identification of the Genus Phyllanthus (Family Phyllanthaceae) in Southern Nigeria Using Comparative Systematic Morphological and Anatomical Studies of the Vegetative Organs. J Plant Sci. 2015;3(3):137-149. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15,
      author = {Daniel Azubuike Awomukwu and Bio Louis Nyananyo and Chiedozie Joel Uka and Clement Uwabunkeonye Okeke},
      title = {Identification of the Genus Phyllanthus (Family Phyllanthaceae) in Southern Nigeria Using Comparative Systematic Morphological and Anatomical Studies of the Vegetative Organs},
      journal = {Journal of Plant Sciences},
      volume = {3},
      number = {3},
      pages = {137-149},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jps.20150303.15},
      abstract = {Five species of Phyllanthus L. Family Phyllanthaceae occurring in Southern Nigeria, P. amarus Schum and Thonn, P. urinaria Linn., P. odontadenius Mull-Arg., P. niruroides Mull-Arg. and P. muellerianus (O. Ktze) Excell were compared using the morphology and anatomy with the view to adding to increasing the systematic lines of evidence and providing a more natural clarification than the existing one. The foliar and floral morphology of these species were described while the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem and root are valuable characters in delimiting the species. The results obtained from the studies showed that species of Phyllanthus have different attributes in their vascular characteristics that could be used together with other existing systematic evidence in clarifying the confusion in identifying these plants. Evidence from the nature of the palisade parenchyma in the mesophyll, nature of the collenchyma, sclerenchyma and vascular bundles are presented and discussed with their values in the systematic positions of these plants. A dichotomous bracketed key to the identification of the species studied is provided.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Identification of the Genus Phyllanthus (Family Phyllanthaceae) in Southern Nigeria Using Comparative Systematic Morphological and Anatomical Studies of the Vegetative Organs
    AU  - Daniel Azubuike Awomukwu
    AU  - Bio Louis Nyananyo
    AU  - Chiedozie Joel Uka
    AU  - Clement Uwabunkeonye Okeke
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15
    T2  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    JF  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    JO  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    SP  - 137
    EP  - 149
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2331-0731
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15
    AB  - Five species of Phyllanthus L. Family Phyllanthaceae occurring in Southern Nigeria, P. amarus Schum and Thonn, P. urinaria Linn., P. odontadenius Mull-Arg., P. niruroides Mull-Arg. and P. muellerianus (O. Ktze) Excell were compared using the morphology and anatomy with the view to adding to increasing the systematic lines of evidence and providing a more natural clarification than the existing one. The foliar and floral morphology of these species were described while the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem and root are valuable characters in delimiting the species. The results obtained from the studies showed that species of Phyllanthus have different attributes in their vascular characteristics that could be used together with other existing systematic evidence in clarifying the confusion in identifying these plants. Evidence from the nature of the palisade parenchyma in the mesophyll, nature of the collenchyma, sclerenchyma and vascular bundles are presented and discussed with their values in the systematic positions of these plants. A dichotomous bracketed key to the identification of the species studied is provided.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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