Micromorphological Study on Leaf Epidermis of Schizostachyum and Its Allies ( Poaceae: Bambusoideae)

Micromorphological characters of leaf epidermis of 16 published species from Schizostachy um Nees and its allies ( including Melocanna Trin. , Pseudostachyum Munro, Leptocanna Chia et H. L. Fung and Cephalostachyum Munro) were examined by both light and scanning electron microscopies. The results indicated that the papillae forms and distributional patterns on the abaxial surface were taxonomically informative at the generic level. The characters of papillae did not support Schiz ostachyum sensu lato; meanwhile, it was supported that Melocanna, Pseudostachyum and Cep halostachyum were better to be treated as separate genera respectively. Furthermore, it seemed to be more appropriate to place Leptocanna chinensis and Schizostachyum sanguineum in Cep halostachyum; and to place Cephalostachyum pergr acile and C1 virgatum in Schizostachy um .