Resumen

JAUREGUI, Damelis  y  BENITEZ DE ROJAS, Carmen. Morphological aspects and leaf anatomy of the species of Gnetum L. (Gnetaceae-Gnetophyta) present in Venezuela. Acta Bot. Venez. [online]. 2005, vol.28, n.2, pp.349-368. ISSN 0084-5906.

Morphological and anatomical information for six species of Gnetum were investigated to understand which features are important for taxonomic delimitations. Morphological characterization and observations were made using stereoscopic microscopy, following the conventional methodology for taxonomic studies. For anatomic studies, the material was prepared using traditional methods, and examined with a compound microscope. Morphologically, the species are distinguished by stem cortex surface, length of internodes, size of leaves, seed color and form and number of cotyledons. Distinctive anatomical characters are: the presence of hypodermis; crystals; the density, and degree thickness of the cell walls of the sclerenchymatous cells in the mesophyll, and the number of vascular bundles in the midrib. An artificial key based on morphoanatomical characters is presented.

Palabras clave : Anatomy; Gnetum; Leaf; Morphology.