Leaf Morphological Variations Among Selected Bauhinia L. Species

Background and Objective: Bauhiniatrees and lianas have been used in many traditional medicines for their richness in natural products. Many of its species need accurate naming and description to avoid misidentification. This study investigates leaf variations in Bauhinia species. Materials and Methods: Leaf macro- and micro-morphological characters of eleven Bauhinia species commonly planted in the Egyptian streets were examined and measured using an eyepiece and both light and scanning electron microscopes. Different leaf shapes, epidermal cells, hair, and stomatal characters were recorded. Results: Variations in epidermal cell shapes, periclinal and anticlinal walls, besides hair density, type, and their wall ornamentation were highly different. Type of stomata, stomatal index, and density were valuable characters in the differentiation of the studied species. According to SEM examination, most of the studied species have epicuticular wax depositions with different shapes. The most important characters in discriminating the studied taxa are their macro-morphological ones, besides hair and stomatal characters. Conclusion: This study supports the taxonomical division of the Bauhinia species into two subgenera with five sections. This study can aid in tracing the adaptation strategy of the different species to the polluted environment in Egypt. Identification key, adaptation strategy, and postulated evolutionary groupings within the studied species according to leaf macro-morphological characters were given.1-B. variegatais considered primitive, while B. Grevei was considered the most advanced species.