Morpho-anatomic studies in species of Justicia (Acanthaceae) from northeastem Argentina

Abstract

This paper presents the comparative analysis of the seed morphology and stem structure of 12 species of Justicia Housl. ex L. from the northeastern of Argentina. Even though these species belong to four different sections, all of them have a well developed endodermis in the stem, and a normal stmcture eltcept in J. laevilinguis (Nees) Lindau that is polystelic. In agreement with Graham (1988) J. dumetorum Morong and J. squarrosa Griscb. belong to sect Simonisia; J. goudotti V.A.W. Graham. J. lythroides (Nees) V.A.W. Graham, J. oblonga (Nees) Lindau and J. ramulosa V.A.W. Graham to sect. Chaetothylax; J. brasiliana Roth and J. floribunda (C. Koch) Wassh. lo sect. Plagiacanthus and J. laevilinguis to sect. Dianlhera subsect. Dianthera. Taking into account the analized characters, three species, two of which were previously considered as of uncertain taxonomic position, are tentatively placed within the infrageneric classification of Graham (1988): J. tweediana Griseb. in sect. Plagiacanthus, J. axillaris (Nees) Lindau in sect. Chaetothylax and J. comata (L.) Lam. in sect.
Dianthera subsect. Dianthera.