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Abstract : |
Observations on the vegetative and floral morphology of eight species of Vigna namely V. ambacensis, V. gracillis, V. racemosa, V. reticulata, V. subterranea, V. triloba, V. unguiculata and V. vexillata are presented. The results of the vegetative characters showed that V. ambacensis and V. gracillis are creeping herbs while others are climbing herbs. The leaf texture of all the taxa are rough except in V. racemosa with smooth leaf texture and the leaf shape of V. reticulata and V. vexillata are lanceolate, linear in V. racemosa but ovate in others. V. reticulata has the longest leaf while V. unguiculata has the widest leaf. The floral symmetry is zygomorphic in V. ambacensis and V. triloba but actinomorphic in others. V. vexillata has the longest pod while V. subterranea has the widest pod. The seed number per pod is numerous in V. reticulata, V. triloba and V. vexillata but ranges from 4-10 in others. The significance of these characters in the taxonomy of these taxa was discussed in view of the perceived similarities in structural and reproductive biology of these taxa., Observations on the vegetative and floral morphology of eight species of Vigna namely V. ambacensis, V. gracillis, V. racemosa, V. reticulata, V. subterranea, V. triloba, V. unguiculata and V. vexillata are presented. The results of the vegetative characters showed that V. ambacensis and V. gracillis are creeping herbs while others are climbing herbs. The leaf texture of all the taxa are rough except in V. racemosa with smooth leaf texture and the leaf shape of V. reticulata and V. vexillata are lanceolate, linear in V. racemosa but ovate in others. V. reticulata has the longest leaf while V. unguiculata has the widest leaf. The floral symmetry is zygomorphic in V. ambacensis and V. triloba but actinomorphic in others. V. vexillata has the longest pod while V. subterranea has the widest pod. The seed number per pod is numerous in V. reticulata, V. triloba and V. vexillata but ranges from 4-10 in others. The significance of these characters in the taxonomy of these taxa was discussed in view of the perceived similarities in structural and reproductive biology of these taxa., |
