Open AccessRelevance of leaf morphology and biometrics: a study with species of Aphelandra R. Br. (Acanthaceae)
Author(s) -
Livia Zottele,
Elisa Mitsuko Aoyama,
Alexandre Indriunas
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of biotechnology and biodiversity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2179-4804
DOI - 10.20873/jbb.uft.cemaf.v9n4.zottele
Subject(s) - biometrics , acanthaceae , apex (geometry) , petiole (insect anatomy) , leaf blade , biology , botany , morphology (biology) , phyllotaxis , taxon , genus , artificial intelligence , computer science , zoology , shoot , meristem
Morphological characteristics, as well as biometrics, govern the description of species. However, systematical comparative analyzes of these aspects between taxa are scarce. The aim of the work was to evaluate the relevance of these characteristics in species of Aphelandra. Leaves of A. longiflora, A. harleyi, A. espirito-santensis, A. nitida, A. sinclairiana and A. squarosa were collected and analyzed for morphologic patterns: phyllotaxis, texture, leaf blade form, symmetry, apex, base, margin, venation and coloring pattern; and for biometric parameters: total length, length and width of the leaf blade, length and diameter of the petiole. We calculated mean and standard deviations. Among the relevant morphological patterns are the shape of the blade, apex and base, and the biometric data showed differences. As conclusion, this analysis proposal proves to be an instrument of accuracy and detail for descriptions.