Foliar epidermal anatomy and pollen morphological studies of Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) DC. and Mucuna poggei Taub. in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

As a result of confusion in identification between Mucuna pruriens and Mucuna poggei, a study was carried out on the taxonomic characters with the aim to provide constant and reliable taxonomic character for easy identifications through foliar anatomy and palynological studies. The leaves of the two species were cut into the required sizes and put into the concentrated trioxonitrate (v) acid for 2 hours; the epidermises were removed with a forceps pass though different solutions to harden it and to remove excess stains and mounted on slides and observed under the microscope, under different magnifications. The pollen morphological characters were observed, measured and reported. The morphological component was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by standard methods. Anomocytic and paracytic stomatal types were found in both species studied but anisocytic stomata types was recorded in M. pruriens in addition to prevalent stomata type.  Long Unicellular, non glandular trichomes were observed in both surfaces of the two species but longer in Mucuna pruriens. There was a distinctive variation in the number of stomata present on both surfaces of species studied, leading to perfect identification when dealing with fragmentation Palynologyical evidence obtained from this study shows the naturalness of the Mucuna species with their prolate-spheroidal grain type. It was recommended that molecular studies should be employed to separate this similar species.