STUDIES ON EPIDERMAL APPENDAGES FROM VEGETATIVE ORGANS AT EUPHORBIA SPECIES CULTIVATED IN BOTANICAL GARDEN IASSY

Abstract

The Euphorbia genus is unitary by the presence of the characteristic inflorescence named cyathium, but presents a remarkable morphological diversity of aerial vegetative organs. Species that originated in the tropical zones, especially South-African ones stand out by the presence of some epidermal appendages little known (trichomes, spines, leaf scars). Of those, the spines are the most conspicuous and intriguing from a structural point of view; the botanical terminology used for describing their features is critically presented. The representatives of the Euphorbia genus cultivated in Botanical Garden Iassy greenhouses were morphologically analysed and a detailed description of epidermal appendages resulted, which is useful in clearing taxonomical aspects.