COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF SOME PARENTS AND HYBRIDS OF THE HAWAIIAN MADIINAE (ASTERACEAE)

Comparative leaf morphology and anatomy was examined in five species and four hybrids involving three genera of Hawaiian Madiinae (Asteraceae). The comparisons included Argyroxiphium grayanum, Dubautia ciliolata subsp. ciliolata, D. knudsenii subsp. knudsenii, D. scabra subsp. leiophylla, D. scabra subsp. scabra, and Wilkesia gymnoxiphium, and the hybrids A. grayanum × D. scabra subsp. leiophylla, D. ciliolata subsp. ciliolata × D. scabra subsp. scabra, D. knudsenii subsp. knudsenii × D. scabra subsp. leiophylla, and W. gymnoxiphium × D. scabra subsp. leiophylla. Foliar morphology, leaf tissue organization, and various characters of stomata and trichomes were compared, using epidermal peels, cross and paradermal sections, and clearings of leaves. Pronounced anatomical differences among these closely related taxa were characterized, and effects of hybridization on the expression of anatomical features were documented. Most comparisons of parents and hybrids revealed statistically significant differences in leaf size, distribution of adaxial and abaxial stomata, and marginal and surface trichomes. In most instances hybrids demonstrated intermediate status in their foliar characters, indicating that these features are inherited from both parents. However, differences in foliar characters were usually of sufficient magnitude to allow recognition of hybrids as well as parents.