Abstract

A detailed morphological study of the leaf epidermis of some species in the genera Bauhinia  Linn., Caesalpinia Linn.  Daniellia Hutch. & Dalz. and Senna  Linn in Nigeria was undertaken in search of useful and stable taxonomic characters.  The study reveals several interesting epidermal features some of which are novel in the genera. Leaf epidermal characters such as epidermal cell types, stomata types and the presence of trichomes were constant in some species and variable in others, making them to be of great significance in determining the relationships among and within species. Stomata were amphistomatic in all the species except in Senna alata, Senna  siamea and Senna  siberiana which are epistomatic. The species showed variability in their stomata length, width, density and index, which was reflected in their taxonomic delimitations.

Key words: Taxonomy, Leaf epidermis, Bauhinia, Caesalpinia, Daniellia, Senna.