Comparative Leaf Anatomy of Selected Species in Vitaceae and Leeaceae

Leea species was originally placed in the family Vitaceae but was later placed in the Leeaceae due to the anatomical differences between the two families and between species. A study on the anatomical difference in leaves of four species in the Vitaceae (Tetrastigma cruciatum, Pterisanthes miquelii, Cissus hastata and Nothocissus spicifera) and two species from Leeaceae (Leea rubra and Leea indica) was undertaken. Show that species from the two families differ in the shape of the transverse sections of the petiole and midrib. Druses and raphides are present in the petioles and midribs of Tetrastigma cruciatum, Pterisanthes miquelii, Cissus hastata and Nothocissus spicifera, while in Leea rubra and Leea indica only druses are present. Starch grains are present in the pith of the Vitaceae species studied but are absent in both L. rubra and L. indica.