LEAF VENATION ANATOMY – A USEFUL TOOL IN THE INDENTIFICATION OF TEN SPECIES OF GENUS MACHILUS OF FAMILY LAURACEAE

Abstract

The present work deals with the venation studies in the genus Machilus of family Lauraceae. The family Lauraceae is commonly called Laurel family which is of great economic importance. Ten species of Machilus are studied namely M. bombycina, M. clarkeana, M. dutheii, M. gamblei, M. globosa, M. khasyana, M. kingii, M. odoratissima, M. parviflora, M. villosa. The type of venation found is pinnate camptodromous with festooned brochidodromous secondaries. The further separation of the species can be done based on tertiary veins, highest vein order, angle of divergence of secondary and veins, angle of divergence of tertiary veins. Accordingly, and a key has been prepared. The species are so intimate by their leaf morphological characters, such thatit is often difficult to determine their nomenclature types. Hence attempt has been made to recognise the taxonomic value of laminar architecture