Taxonomic significance of petiole anatomy of Madhuca Buch.-Ham ex J. F. Gmelin (Sapotaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia.

The petiole anatomy of 26 species of Madhuca from Peninsular Malaysia was studied. Methods used in this study were petiole sectioning using a sliding microtome, staining, mounting and observation under light microscope. This is the first report on a comprehensive petiole anatomy of selected Madhuca species from Peninsular Malaysia. The results had shown that there were five types of petiole outlines, and ten types of vascular bundles on the petiole of species studied. All species have sclerenchyma cells in the abaxial side except in M. motleyana, which has clusters of sclerenchyma cells scattered throughout the cortex. The findings showed that two types of crystals and latex canal were shared in all species studied. Only five species out of 26 have trichomes on their petiole. The evaluated petiole anatomical characteristic features proved to be a useful tool for the taxonomic discrimination of the 26 studied species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]