Contributions of leaf morphoanatomy to the taxonomy of Bronwenia (Malpighiaceae Juss.) Author Vilarinho, Milena Pereira 0000-0003-1502-1579 Universidade Estadual do Piauí-UESPI, Campus Heróis do Jenipapo, 64280 - 000, Campo Maior, Piauí, Brazil. & milenavilarinho 15 @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0003 - 1502 - 1579 milenavilarinho15@gmail.com Author Santos, João Victor Da Costa 0000-0002-2240-3498 Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570 - 900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. & victorbarrosov @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 2240 - 3498 victorbarrosov@gmail.com Author Santos-Filho, Francisco Soares 0000-0002-1713-7228 Universidade Estadual do Piauí-UESPI, Campus Torquato Neto, 64002 - 150, Rua João Cabral, 2231, Pirajá, Teresina- Piauí, Brazil. & fsoaresfilho @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 1713 - 7228 fsoaresfilho@gmail.com Author Araújo, Josiane Silva 0000-0002-2629-8306 Universidade Estadual do Piauí-UESPI, Campus Heróis do Jenipapo, 64280 - 000, Campo Maior, Piauí, Brazil. & josianesilva @ cpm. uespi. br; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 2629 - 8306 josianesilva@cpm.uespi.br text Phytotaxa 2023 2023-06-12 599 4 252 264 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.599.4.4 journal article 10.11646/phytotaxa.599.4.4 1179-3163 8030251 Bronwenia species identification key 1. Presence of malpighiaceous trichomes on the leaf blade ( Fig.2F ).....................................................................................................2 - Absence of malpighiaceous trichomes on the leaf blade....................................................................................................................6 2. Presence of bundle sheath extension in the mesophyll ( Fig.3F, G )....................................................................................................3 - Absence of bundle sheath extension in the mesophyll.......................................................................................................................4 3. Plane-convex contour of petiole ( Fig. 2E ); absence of accessory bundles on the petiole; conformation of the vascular system in an open arch on the petiole ( Fig. 2G ); conformation of the vascular system in an open arch with convoluted ends in the midrib ( Fig. 3E ); absence of leaf glands on the petiole ..................................................................................................... Bronwenia acapulcensis - Concave-convex petiole contour ( Fig.2D ); presence of accessory bundles on the petiole ( Fig. 2D, E ); conformation of the vascular system in an open arch with convoluted ends on the petiole ( Fig. 2D, E ); conformation of the vascular system in an open arch in the midrib ( Fig. 3D ); presence of leaf glands on the petiole ( Fig.1A ) ............................................................. Bronwenia megaptera 4. Plane-convex contour of petiole ( Fig.2E ); absence of leaf glands on the petiole ............................................ Bronwenia mathiasiae - Concave-convex petiole contour ( Fig.2D ); presence of leaf glands on the petiole ( Fig.1A ).............................................................5 5. Flat surface glands ( Fig.1 C-1D); presence of idioblasts ( Fig.3B, C )............................................................... Bronwenia cineracens - Concave surface glands ( Fig. 1F ); absence of idioblasts ................................................................................. Bronwenia ferruginea 6. Convex surface glands ( Fig. 1B, E ); presence of bundle sheath extension in the mesophyll ( Fig. 3F, G ); absence of dairy products; absence of secretory cavities ............................................................................................................................. Bronwenia cornifolia - Flat surface glands ( Fig.1C, D ); absence of bundle sheath extension in the mesophyll; presence of laticifers ( Fig.3H, I ); presence of secretory cavities ( Fig. 2C ) ........................................................................................................................... Bronwenia wurdackii FIGURE 4 . Details of leaf architecture in Bronwenia acapulcensis (D), B. cornifolia (A) and B. megaptera (B and C). A —Primary venation, B— Secondary and tertiary veins with marginal termination, C— Tertiary reticular veins, D— Quaternary and quinternary veins. Abbreviations: 1st = Primary Vein; 2nd = Secondary vein; 3rd = Tertiary vein; 4th = Quaternary vein; 5th = quinternary vein L; “Loops”; VM = Marginal Vein. FIGURE 5 . Similarity Analysis (UPGMA) of Bronwenia species. Baca — B. acapulcensis ; Bcin — B. cineracens ; Bcor - B. cornifolia ; Bfer — B. ferruginea ; Bmat — B. mathiasiae ; Bmeg — B. megaptera ; Bwur — B. wurdackii . Multivariate analysis: —From the analysis of similarity with UPGMA ( Fig.5 ) the species of Bronwenia were grouped according to the degree of similarity of the anatomical characters analyzed. The highest degree of similarity pointed out in the analysis occurred between the species Bronwenia cineracens and B. ferruginea as they share 15 similar characteristics, such as: presence of external leaf glands on the leaf, concave-convex contour, glands with convex surface, presence of prismatic crystals on the leaf and irregular quinternary veins. Another group was formed by B. cineracens , B. ferruginea , B. megaptera and B. mathiasiae that present the same type of conformation of the vascular system of the petiole/ midrib and the presence of accessory bundles in the petiole. The species B. acapulcensis and B. wurdackii share the presence of external leaf glands among the other species, however, B. acapulcensis presents a low degree of similarity, and this fact is explained by the exclusivity in the type of conformation of the petiole/ midrib vascular system main beam and absence of accessory beams. Bronwenia wurdackii was the species with the lowest degree of similarity with the other taxa, due to the presence of exclusive characteristics such as the presence of laticifers and secretory structures that visually resemble secretory cavities, but further studies are needed to determine the type of structure.