Comparative leaf anatomy of wild Manihot Mill. species (Euphorbiaceae) from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

The leaf anatomy of nine species of Manihot Mill. were studied with the objective of finding anatomical features that contribute to understanding the taxonomy of the genus. Leaf samples were collected in the field and from herbarium specimens, and standardized methods were used for both light and scanning electron microscopy. The following species were studied: M. bellidifolia P. Carvalho & M. Martins, M. brachyandra Pax & K. Hoffm., M. caerulescens Pohl, M. diamantinensis Allem, M. elongata sp. nov. ined., M. jacobinensis Müll. Arg. (I), M. jacobinensis Müll. Arg. (II), M. longiracemosa P. Carvalho & M. Martins, M. maracasensis Ule, M. reniformis Pohl, M. tripartita (Spreng) Müll. Arg. and Manihot sp. Anatomically, the analysis revealed differences that indicate the importance of leaf anatomy in the taxonomy of the species. Presence of fibers in the bundle sheath, presence or absence of papillae and fibers in the midrib are diagnostic characters. Although these characterist...