Leaf and Nodal Anatomy and Systematics of Staphyleaceae

A comprehensive anatomical study of the nodes and leaves of 21 species in five genera of Staphyleaceae was conducted to clarify the systematics and major trends of specialization and radiation within the family. The fundamenta staphyleaceous nodal pattern is trilacunar, three-trace, although a considerable range of variation exists within genera in numbers of traces and gaps and in the nature and course of individual traces. The nodes of most species of Euscaphis, Staphylea, and Turpinia have a distinctive nodal anatomy characterized by small accessory or subsidiary traces. Features of the lamina that show variation and are useful in generic and subfamilial delimitation include: mature stomatal type, mucilaginous and papillate epidermal cells, presence or absence of a hypodermis, presence or absence and type of vein sheathing, occurrence of domatia, and trichome type. Presumably calcium oxalate crystals of the druse or prismatic type occur in all taxa. The two subfamilies of Staphyleaceae are well defined...