https://doi.org/10.4314/ijs.v22i1.8 Ife Journal of Science vol. 22, no. 1 (2020) 075 COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL STUDIES OF TWO SPECIES OF OCCURRING IN SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA

1*Adenegan-Alakinde T. A. and 2 Ojo F. M. 1Department of Biology, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria. 2 Department of Biological Sciences (Botany Programme), Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa. Ondo State, Nigeria, email: [email protected], Tel: +2348069184017. *Corresponding author's e-mail: [email protected], Tel: 234-8066712798. (Received: 19th May, 2019; Accepted: 28th December, 2019)

ABSTRACT

Leaf anatomical studies were carried out on two species of Talinum: Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd and (Jacq.) Gaertn to fill the knowledge gap in the understanding of the taxonomic relationship between the two species of the genus Talinum studied. Widens of T. paniculatum were collected and established in nursery bags in Ondo city, Ondo State, Nigeria. At flowering, the leaves were collected for anatomical studies. Free hand peeling was done for leaf portions that were used for epidermal studies. Leaves were cleared for venation using standard methods. Transverse sections of the leaf blade, mid rib and petiole were cut from the median portion of the materials available using Reicheirt sliding microtome at 8 - 15 µm. Sections were stained in Safranin O and counter stained in Alcian blue. These were rinsed in several water changes to remove excess stain and then treated to serial grades of alcohol. The stained sections were mounted in dilute glycerol for anatomical studies. Observations were made with compound light microscope. Photomicrographs were taken with 3013 ACCU-SCOPE trinocular microscope with digital camera. The study revealed that the leaves are amphistomatic, stomata is more abundant on the abaxial surface, paracytic stomata accompanied by other stomata types. Sclereids and druses were observed on the two species. The two species can be distinguished based on the anticlinal walls on the adaxial surface which is straight to slightly undulating.

Key words: Amphistomatic, Anticlinal walls, Paracytic, Undulating

INTRODUCTION five species namely: T. triangulare (Jacq.) Willd, The genus Talinum Adans consists of 50 species T. fruticosum (L) Juss., T. paniculatum (Jacq.) of semi succulent herbs or distributed Gaertn., T. crassifolium (Jacq.) Willd and T. in the tropics and sub tropics of America, Africa cuneifolium. and Asia (McNeil, 1974). According to Veselova et al., (2012) members were initially part of Nyananyo and Olowokudejo (1986) observed that but later segregated to the family the floristic treatment of Hutchinson and Dalziel . Hutchinson and Dalziel (1954) (1954) showed that T. triangulare and T. reported that only two species are identified in the cuneifolium are very similar, almost West Coast of Africa. Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) indistinguishable morphologically but separated Willd also known as T. fruticosum (L.) Juss. and T. by leaf apex; leaf apex is emarginate or muronate portulacifolium (Rahl.). in T. triangulare while it is aciculate in T cuneifolium. Because these characters are not Nyananyo and Olowokudejo (1986) reported that reliable, there is a need to search for more stable in Nigeria the genus is represented by two species: characters useful for delimiting the species. Talinum triangulare and Talinum cuneifolium (Willd .DC (syn, T. portulacifolium (Forssk). T. triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. (Portulacaceae) is a According to Oziegbe et al., (2012) the genus caulescent, perennial herb growing to a height Talinum is well represented in Nigeria but the of 80-100 cm. It is popularly known as waterleaf most commonly eaten is T. triangulare because of its high moisture content of almost represented by variants with white and pink petals. 90.8 g per 100 g of edible leaf as described by Nya and Eka (2015) however noted that Nigeria Fontem and Schippers (2010). The is widely grown in most of the humid tropical continents has a rich germplasm of Talinum. They identified 076 Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum such as West Africa, Asia and South America Talinum is scanty especially anatomical studies in (Ezekwe, et al., 2002). It thrives well under shade Nigeria. However, few studies have highlighted and in cloudy weather. The plant has a rich content the foliar micro morphology of the species of of crude protein, total lipids, essential oils, cardiac Portulacaceae (Kadiri, 2006); such include foliar glycosides, flavonoids and polyphenols (Sridhar epidermal studies in the genus Talinum in Nigeria and Lakshminarayana, 1993). Preliminary (Nyananyo and Olowokudeju, 1986) and phytochemical studies on T. triangulare revealed embryology of T. triangulare and T. the presence of omega -3-fatty acids and high paniculatum (Veselova et al., 2012). Molero et al., levels of essential nutrients like minerals (such (2006) reported on the chromosome number of as calcium, potassium and magnesium), the genus as 2n = 24. Swarna and Ravindhran soluble fibres (such as pectin), vitamin C, α and β- (2013) reported on pharmacognostical and tocopherols and β-carotene which are required phytochemical evaluation of Talinum et al for growth and development (Ezekwe ., triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. All the information 2002). The leaf extracts of waterleaf have provided in these studies is not sufficient to give been proved to possess remarkable antioxidant appropriate taxonomic evaluation of the activity and high kaempferol content members of the genus occurring in Nigeria. This (Andarwulan, et al., 2010). Waterleaf is a study therefore seeks to document and evaluate mucilaginous vegetable with high oxalate content the taxonomic relationship between T. Talinum triangulare and is rich in saponins. triangulare and T. paniculatum occurring in leaves have been implicated medically in the south west, Nigeria using foliar anatomical management of cardiovascular diseases such as characters. stroke and obesity (Mbang et al., 2008). MATERIALS AND METHODS T. paniculatum is pantropical, found in several Plant Collections countries including Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, Two species of Talinum namely Talinum et al., Mexico and Sri Lanka (Reis 2015). It is a triangulare (Jacq.) Willd and Talinum perennial ; reaching up to 30 cm in paniculatum T. paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. were studied. height. is a wild deciduous Talinum triangulare was collected at Adeyemi perennial herb with well-developed root system; T. College of Education, Ondo city, Ondo state, naturally grown around the world. Nigeria with coordinates 7.07 07ºN, 4.81 84ºE paniculatum have traditional uses in Brazil; it is while Talinum paniculatum was collected at cultivated as ornamental in house, gardens and Joseph Ayodele Babalola University, Ikeja Arakeji, T. paniculatum small farms. is found as a Ilesa in Osun state, Nigeria with coordinates 7.30 regrowth of waste lands i.e. ruderals. They are 00ºN, 4.49 00ºE. At flowering, the leaves were rarely consumed as potherbs except during lean collected for anatomical studies. Widens of T. et al., seasons because of its sharp taste (Ramos paniculatum were collected and established in 2010, Mosango, 2017). It is used to treat urine with nursery bags in Ondo city, Ondo state, Nigeria and bad smell, gastrointestinal disorders, oedemas, at flowering, the leaves were collected for inflammatory skin diseases, skin lesions, scratches anatomical studies. and scrapes, arthritis, scurvy, nerve distension (Sidney et al., 2010). Traditionally it is used in the Leaf Epidermal Studies et al . treatment of type-2-diabetes (Thanamool . Free hand peeling was done for leaf portions that 2013). It is used to treat diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, were used for epidermal studies. Materials were spleen disorders, impotence, male infertility, rinsed in several changes of water to ensure that wounds and ulcers. The leaves are antidiuretic, the epidermal peels are free of fragments and then aphrodisiac, anti-nociceptive and edematogenic stored in 50% alcohol for anatomical studies. et al (Kumari . 2017). Peels for epidermal studies were stained in Safranin O for 3 minutes, rinsed in water to Information on the of the genus remove excess stain. Stained sections were treated Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum 077 in serial grades of alcohol for proper dehydration. petiole were cut from the median portion of the All stained epidermal peels were mounted in dilute materials available using Reicheirt sliding glycerol for microscopic examination. microtome at 8 - 15 µm. Sections were stained in Safranin O for 3 minutes, rinsed in water to Venation Patterns remove excess stain and counter stained in Alcian For comparative studies of the venation pattern blue for 3 minutes. These were rinsed in water to of the leaves, sizeable portions were taken from remove excess stain and treated to serial grades of standard median portion of mature leaves of the alcohol before mounting in dilute glycerol for two species of Talinum. This was mid-way anatomical studies. between the base and the apex of the leaf lamina and mid-way between the margin and the mid rib. Photomicrographs of all the sections were taken Leaves were cut into sizeable portions so that the using 3013 ACCU-SCOPE trinocular microscope entire surface areas of the leaves were exposed to with digital camera. the action of the clearing agent. The different portions of the leaves were boiled in 90% alcohol RESULTS for 15 minutes in order to remove the chlorophyll Talinum triangulare and washed in 3 – 4 changes of water to remove Epidermal Cells the alcohol. The partly cleared leaves were cleared Abaxial Surface (Plate 1A and B) in 5% solution of domestic bleaching agent, The abaxial epidermal are polygonal with deeply parazone until cleared leaves were observed. The undulating anticlinal walls. Stomata are randomly leaf portions were finally washed in several distributed, paracytic, occasionally laterocyclic changes of water to get rid of the bleaching agent. stomata were found. Abnormal stomata are more The cleared leaves were stored in 50% alcohol for frequent on the abaxial surface. The abnormal anatomical studies. Leaves were stained in stomata that were observed are characterized by Safranin O for 3 minutes and were rinsed in water absence of guard cell, presence of one guard cell to remove excess stain. Stained cleared leaves were and closed stomata pore. Druses are present. treated in serial grades of alcohol. Differentiation in acid alcohol and dehydration was done. All Adaxial Surface (Plate 1C and D) stained materials were mounted in dilute glycerol Epidermal cells are polygonal with wavy to slightly for microscopic examination. undulating anticlinal walls. Paracytic stomata were randomly distributed in the epidermal surface. Transverse Section of the Leaf Blade, Mid Osteosclereids and asterosclereids present. rib and Petiole Druses were present. Transverse sections of the leaf blade, mid rib and 078 Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum

LST

ABST PST

DUAW

A B DR

BSC

WAW ABST ST ASC

C D SG

Plate 1: Abaxial and Adaxial Surfaces of Leaf Epidermal Studies of T. triangulare A- showing laterocyclic stomata and paracytic DR stomata; B-abnormal stomata, druses and deeply undulating anticlinal walls; C- abnormal stomata, asterosceleids and osteosclereids; D-starch grains, stomata and wavy anticlinal wall

Abbreviations: ABST – Abnormal stomata; ASC – Asterosclereids; BSC – Bony shaped sclereids; DR – Druses; DUAW – Deeply undulating anticlinal walls; LST – Laterocytic stomata; PST – Paracytic stomata; SG – Starch grains; ST – Stomata. UAW – Undulating anticlinal wall

Venation (Plate 2) Areole is polygonal of various sizes and shapes; Veins consist of tracheids, abundant starch grains that were scattered and lot of crystal druses. Veinlet ending could be linear or straight, curve, forked; nerve endings may be one or two. DR

SG

LEN TR

Plate 2: Venation Patterns of T. triangulare Abbreviations: DR – Druses; LEN – Linear ending; SG – Starch grain; TR – Tracheids Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum 079 Transverse Section of Leaf Blade (Plate 3A arranged perpendicular to the cuticle. The upper and B) epidermis is biseriate to triseriate with more or less The transverse section of the leaf blade showed circular cells. Vascular bundle is collateral closed. biseriate and triseriate epidermis (upper and Bundle sheath lies on the arms of midrib. lower). Stomata occurred on the upper and lower Sclerenchyma tissue lines the upper epidermis. epidermis. Epidermal portion were separated Druses are present. from the mesophyll by sclerenchyma tissues. The mesophyll were not differentiated, 2-3 layered. Transverse Section of Petiole (Plate 3D) Cells of the mesophyll were polygonal, more or More or circular with slight depression on the less circular. Bundle sheath cells line the lamina. median part of the adaxial surface. The cuticle is Druses were present. thin. The abaxial surface is uniseriate to biseriate while the adaxial epidermis is uniseriate to multi- Transverse Section of Leaf mid rib (Plate 3C) seriate, with cylindrical, circular and polygonal It is dorsiventrally shaped with slight depression cells. The ground tissue is collenchyma, vascular on median portion of upper surface. The lower bundle is amphicribral. Druses are present. epidermis is biseriate, circular to cylindrical

LEP Plate 3: Transverse Sections of DR Leaf Lamina, Midrib and Petiole of T. triangulare SCT A- showing bundle sheath, ST druses and stomata; B-lower MS epidermis, mesophyll, BS sclerenchyma tissue and upper epidermis;C- collateral bundles UEP and druses; D- amphicribral A B bundle, adaxial depression, collenchyma, lower epidermis and upper epidermis Abbreviations: A B – DR AB Amphicribral bundle, AD – Adaxial depression, BS – Bundle AD CO sheath, CB – Collateral bundle, CO – Collenchyma, DR – CB Druses, LEP – Lower epidermis, MS – Mesophyll, UEP SCT – Sclerenchyma tissues, ST – Stomata, UEP – Upper LEP C D epidermis.

T. paniculatum Adaxial Surface (Plate 4 C, D and E) Epidermal Cells In the non-venous areas, the epidermal cells were Abaxial Surface (Plate 4 A and B) polygonal with wavy to undulating anticlinal walls. Epidermal cells were polygonal with wavy to Epidermal cells in the venous areas were undulating anticlinal walls. Stomata were polygonal and longer with straight to undulating randomly distributed as paracytic and elliptic. anticlinal walls. While paracytic stomata were Columnar sclereids and asterosclereid were randomly distributed, diallelocytic and laterocyclic present. Starch grains were found inside the stomata were also observed. Subsidiary cells were epidermal cells and walls. Druses present. present with straight anticlinal walls. Starch grains were less abundant and occur within the epidermal 080 Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum cells and walls. Druses were also present. Veins consist of tracheids. Veinlet ending could be linear or straight, curve, forked, one or two nerve Venation (Plate 5) endings. Starch grains abundant, scattered, crystal Areole is polygonal of various sizes and shapes, druses were plenty.

ASC UAW ABST PST

SG PLATE 4: Adaxial and Abaxial Surfaces of Foliar A B Epidermal Studies of T. paniculatum A showing Asterosclereids, DST Paracytic stomata and SVE abnormal stomata: B- Undulating Anticlinal walls and Starch grains: C- UAW Diallelocytic stomata and Undulating Anticlinal wall: D- laterocyclic stomata and LST Straight Veinous Epidermal C D cells: E- Crystal, Starch grains and Paracytic stomata SG Abbreviations: ABST – PST Abnormal stomata, ASC - Asterosclereids, CR - Crytal, DST – Diallelocytic Stomata, LST – Laterocyclic Stomata, PST - Paracytic Stomata, SG – Starch Grain, SVE – Straight CR Venous epidermal cells, UAW E – Undulating Anticlinal walls.

LE

AR

Plate 5: Venation patterns of T. paniculatum SG DR Abbreviations: AR - Areole, DR - Druse, FE – Forked FE Ending, LE – Linear Ending, SG – Starch Grain. Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum 081 Transverse Sections of Leaf Lamina (PLATE portion of upper surface. The lower epidermis is 6 A and B) biseriate, circular to cylindrical. The upper Stomata and osteosclereids were observed on the epidermis is biseriate to triseriate with more or less leaf lamina. Bundle sheath were present at regular circular cells. Vascular bundle is arc shaped and intervals, Sclerenchyma tissue differentiates the amphicribral. Bundle sheaths are found on the epidermal from the mesophyll. The upper arms of midrib. Sclerenchymatous tissue lines the epidermis and the lower epidermis are biseriate to upper epidermis. triseriate. The bundle sheaths demarcate the palisade and spongy mesophyll. There are Transverse Sections of Petiole (Plate 7) cystoliths in between the bundle sheath cells. Heart shaped with slight depression on the Palisade mesophyll compact rod like or median part of the adaxial surface. The cuticle was elongated/cylindrical. The spongy mesophyll thin. The adaxial portion forms a cap on the consists of more or less round or spherical cells abaxial portion. Both the abaxial and adaxial with little or no air spaces. Asterosclereids were epidermis were biseriate, with cylindrical, circular found on the lower epidermis. Cuticle is thick on and polygonal cells. Hypodermis was present and the lower epidermis while the cuticle thin on the one layered. The ground tissue was collenchyma, upper epidermis. vascular bundle was amphicribral with 3-4 medullary bundles extending on both sides of the Transverse Sections of Midrib (Plate 6 C, D vascular bundles. Druses were present. and E) It is heart shaped with slight depression on median

BS CU

LEP CYS SCT UEP ST

SCT

A B

CO AD SCT BS

UEP AB LEP

C SCT D 082 Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum

CO Plate 6: Transverse Section of leaf lamina and midrib of T. paniculatum A-Bundle sheath, Cuticle, Cystolliths, Lower epidermis and Upper B C AB epidermis: - Sclerenchyma tissue and Stomata: - Amphicribral bundle, Bundle sheath and Collenchyma: D-Adaxial depression, Lower epidermis, Sclerenchyma tissue, Upper epidermis: E-Amphicribal bundle and Collenchyma E Abbreviations: AB – Amphicribral bundle, AD – Adaxial depression, BS – Bundle sheath, CO - Collenchyma, CU - Cuticle, CYS - Cystolliths, LEP – Lower Epidermis, SCT – Sclerenchyma tissue, SG – Starch grain, UEP – Upper Epidermis,

LEP CO

BS

AB Plate 7: Transverse Section of Petiole of T. paniculatum Abbreviations: AB – Amphicribral bundle, AD – Adaxial depression, BS – Bundle sheath, CO - Collenchyma, CU - Cuticle, LEP – Lower Epidermis. CU AD

DISCUSSION The use of anatomical features in to delimit This study showed that the epidermal cells in T. members of a family, genus or between species is triangulare and T. paniculatum are irregular, well documented in literature. Ogburn and polygonal with wavy to undulating anticlinal walls. Edwards (2009) reported that anatomical This correlates with the findings of Kadiri (2006) characters are particularly appropriate to on T. triangulare and T. cuneifolium with investigate the relationship between forms, irregular shaped epidermal cells and curved to functions and adaptation at a macro-evolutionary undulating anticlinal walls. Irregular epidermal scale. Leaf anatomical feature such as nature of cells with undulating anticlinal walls are generic epidermal cells and anticlinal walls have been used feature. Asterosclereids were found on the adaxial to elucidate the differences between members of a surface of the two species but absent on the genus. Scatena et al. (2005) reported that leaf abaxial surface of the leaves of the two species. In epidermal tissue characteristics have an important T. triangulare macro sclereids were also observed role in taxonomy and in determining the number on the adaxial surface of the leaves. Non glandular of plant genera and species. Munir et al. (2011) unicellular trichome was observed on the abaxial noted that the epidermis possesses a number of leaf surface of T. paniculatum. The presence of important diagnostic characters that offer Asterosclereids on the leaves' adaxial surface is valuable clues for identification. These diagnostic common to the two species. The leaf epidermal characters include size, shape and orientation of features may not be useful in delimiting the two stomata, guard cells, subsidiary cells and structural species but shows generic affinity. peculiarities of epidermal cell walls, length and width of the epidermal cells with distinctive or Stomata occur on the abaxial and adaxial surfaces specialised trichomes. in the leaves of the two species (amphistomatic). Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum 083 Stomata are paracytic accompanied by laterocyclic abaxial epidermis, presence of bundle sheath cells stomata. However Nyananyo and Olowokudejo which lines the lamina or blade, the epidermal (1986) reported that parallellocytic was observed portions are demarcated from the mesophyll by in the Talinum species they studied. Kadiri (2006) sclerenchyma tissue and upper and lower also reported that stomata in the species of epidermis biseriate to triseriate. The mesophyll is Talinum are paracytic although they may be not differentiated in T. triangulare (mesophyll accompanied by other stomata types. Thakur and cells are more or less spherical) while it is Patil (2011) noted that the predominant stomata differentiated into palisade and spongy mesophyll type may be employed for taxonomic delineation in T. paniculatum. Palisade cells are more or less and that the occurrence of more than one type of cylindrical while the spongy cells are more or less stomata is a reflection of the precarious balance spherical or round. The bundle sheaths between the influences operating at a level of demarcate the palisade mesophyll from the meristemoid which tend to cause the formation of spongy mesophyll. Ogburn and Edwards (2009) stomata mother cells on one hand and influence reported of little differentiation between the operating at the level of organ involved in the palisade and spongy mesophyll in Cactaceae and orientation of cell division on the other hand. its relatives but pointed out that members of the genus Talinum have greater mesophyll Winkinson (1979) noted that the taxonomic differentiation. Swarna and Ravindhran (2013) significance of the similarity of the stomatal reported uniseriate epidermis and differentiated apparatus in a mature leaf often provides a reliable mesophyll in T. triangulare. diagnostic character, especially when the ontogeny of the stomata is unknown or different. Generic features of the leaf blade that are The presence of both paracytic stomata in the two common to the two species are presence of species shows that they are related and have a stomata on the adaxial and abaxial epidermis, common evolutionary origin and are generic presence of bundle sheath cells which lines the characters for the genus. Another character that is lamina or blade, the epidermal portions are of importance to the genus is the presence of demarcated from the mesophyll by sclerenchyma abnormal stomata on abaxial and adaxial surfaces tissue and upper and lower epidermis biseriate to of the leaves in T. triangulare but restricted to the triseriate. abaxial surface of the leaves in T. paniculatum. The abnormal guard cells are characterized by Both transverse section of the midrib is unopened stomata, a stoma with one guard cell dorsiventrally shaped with slight depression on and no guard cell. These show generic affinity median portion of upper surface. The lower between the species. epidermis is biseriate, circular to cylindrical. The upper epidermis is biseriate to triseriate with more Leaf architecture especially the size and shape of or less circular cells. Bundle sheaths are found on the areoles and free ramifications have been useful the arms of midrib. Sclerenchyma tissue lines the in distinguishing between the species (Colombo et upper epidermis. Vascular bundle is arc shaped al., 2007). The use of venation pattern and areolar and amphicribral in T. paniculatum but collateral area in delimiting the species of the genus Ficus closed in T. triangulare. The dorsiventral nature was reported by Ogunkunle (2013). Areoles are of the midrib and presence of collateral bundle in polygonal in T. triangulare and T. paniculatum. T. triangulare was reported by Brasilero et al., Veins consist of tracheids. Veinlet ending could be (2016) linear or straight, curve, forkated. Areoles are also characterized by presences of druses and starch Petioles provide many useful anatomical grains. characters and are widely used in other aspects of taxonomy and have been largely applied to the The transverse section of the leaves of the two elucidation of phylogenetic relationship (Unamba species of Talinum studied showed similar et al., 2011. The distinguishing characters of architecture; stomata are found on the adaxial and taxonomic value include the variation in shapes of 084 Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum the petioles, the variation in the number, both sides of the amphicribral vascular bundles, arrangement and shape of vascular bundles, type the occurrence of the hypodermis and the and mode of distribution of trichomes on the formation of cap on the abaxial portion by the petioles as well as types and distribution of adaxial epidermis which are exclusive to T. crystals on the petioles (Essiett, 2010). paniculatum.

The transverse section of the petiole is heart REFERENCES T. paniculatum shaped in but more or less circular Andarwulan, N., Batari, R., Sandrasari, D.A., in T. triangulare. Both have slight depression on Bolling, B. and Wijaya, H. 2010. Flavonoid the median part of the adaxial surface. The cuticle content and antioxidant activity of is thin. The adaxial portion forms a cap on the vegetables from Indonesia. Food T. paniculatum abaxial portion in . Both the Chemistry, 121:1231–1235. abaxial and adaxial epidermis are biseriate, with Brasilero, B.G., Barbosa J.B., Jamal C.M., cylindrical, circular and polygonal cells in T. Goncalves O., Coelho L., Ronchie R. and paniculatum but in T. triangulare, the abaxial Pizziolo V.R. (2016). Anatomical surface is uniseriate to biseriate while the adaxial characterization, chemical composition epidemis is uniseriate to multi-seriate, with and cytotoxity of Talinum triangulare cylindrical, circular and polygonal cells. (Jacq). Willd. (Portulacaceae). Ciencia e T. Hypodermis is present and one layered in Natura, Santa Maria, 38(2): 665-674. paniculatum. The ground tissue is collenchyma Colombo, P.V., Spadaro, V. and Raimondo, F.M. and vascular bundle is amphicribral in both (2007). Morpho-anatomical analysis of species but T. paniculatum has additional 3-4 Viola tineorum and V.ucriana medullary bundles extending on both sides of the (Violaceae) endemic to the mountains vascular bundles. Druses were present. around Palermo (NW-Sicily). Bocconea, 21: 233 – 247. Generic features of the petiole that show close Essiett, U.A. (2010). Petiole anatomy for T triangulare T relationship between . and . systematic purposes in Eremonastax paniculatum include slight depression on the polysperma, Justica insularis and median part of the adaxial surface, uniseriate to Asystacia gangetica (Acanthaceae). multiseriate epidermis, thin cuticle, presence of World Journal of Applied Science and druses, collenchymatous ground tissues, and Technology, 2(1): 69 – 75. amphicribral vascular bundles. T. paniculatum T triangulare Ezekwe, M. O., Besong, S. A, Igbokwe P.E. and differs from . by the possession of Ezekwe E.I. 2002. Beneficial influence of additional 3-4 medullary bundles extending on purslane and waterleaf supplementation both sides of the vascular bundles, the occurrence on cardiovascular disease risk in humans. of the hypodermis and the formation of cap on FASEB Journal, 16(4): A639. the abaxial portion by the adaxial epidermis. Fontem, D. A and Schippers, R.R. 2010. Talinum Crystal druses are found in the two species; these triangulare are generic characters. (Jacq.) Willd, Record from protabase: Grubben G.J.H., Denton O.A. CONCLUSION (Editors), PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa/Ressources ve´ge´tales de This report has filled part of the knowledge gap in l'Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, the understanding of the taxonomic relationship Netherlands, , between the two species of the genus Talinum Hutchinson, J. and Dalziel, J.M. 1954. Flora of studied. Anatomical features common to both West Tropical Africa species indicate that they belong to the same genus . Second Edition, but there are anatomical feature that support their Volume I Part I. White Friars Press, delimitation as different species. Theses London. anatomical features include the possession of Kadiri, A.B. (2006). Comparative foliar micro- additional 3-4 medullary bundles extending on morphological characters of the species Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum 085 of Portulacaceae in Nigeria. Bulletin of Ogunkunle, A.T.J. (2013). The Value of Leaf Pure and Applied Sciences – Botany, 25, Epidermal Characters in Diagnosing (1): 21-29. Some Nigerian Species of Ficus L. Kumari, K.D., Hasanthi K.B. and Gamage R.N.N. (Moraceae). Research Journal of Botany, (2017). A comparative study on In Vitro 8: 1-14. antibacterial Activity of different leaf Oziegbe, M. Faluyi, J.O and Idowu, J.A. (2012) extracts of Medicinal plant Talinum Inheritance of pigmentation patterns in paniculatum. International Journal of Talinum triangulare (Jacq.)Willd. Ife Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Research Journal of Science, 14 (2): 363-367. (Human) 10(3): 143 – 154. Ramos M.P.O., Silva G.D.F., Duarte L.P., Peres V., McNeil, J. (1974). Synopsis of a revised Miranda R.R.S., de Souza G.H.B., Belinelo classification of Portulacaceae. Taxon 23: V.J. and Vieira F. 2010. Antinociceptive 725 – 728. and edematogenic activity and chemical Mbang A., Owolabi S., Jaja O. and Opeyemi J.O. constituents of Talinum paniculatum 2008. Evaluation of the antioxidant Wild. Journal of Chemical and activity and lipid peroxidation of the Pharmaceutical Research, 2(6): 265-274. leaves of Vernonia amygdalina. Journal Reis L.F.D., Cerdeira C.D., Paula B.F., Silva J.J.D., of Complementary Integrated Medicines Coelho L.F., Silva M.A., Marques V.B., 5. doi:10.2202/1553-3840.1152. Chavasco J.K. and Da-Silva G. 2015. Molero J., Davina J.R., Honfi A.L. Franco D. and Chemical characterization and evaluation Rovira A. 2006. Chromosome studies on of antibacterial, antifungal, plants from Paraguay II. Candollea 61: antimycobacterial and cytotoxic activities 373 – 392 of Talinum paniculatum. Revista do Mosango M. Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Gaertn. . Accessed August 27, 2017 Paulo, 57(5): 97-405 Munir, M., Khan M.A., Ahmed M., Beno A., Sidney, A.V.F., Ramosa P.O., de Fátima Silvaa Ahmed S.N., Tariq K., Tabassur S., G.D., Duartea L.P., Peresb V., Mirandaa Mukhtar T., Ambreen M. and Bashir S. R.R.S., de Souzac G.H.B. and Belinelod (2011). Foliar Epidermal Anatomy of V.J. (2010). Antinociceptive and some Ethnobotanical Important Species edematogenic activity and chemical of Wild Edible Fruits of North Pakistan. constituents of Talinum paniculatum Journal of Medicinal plants Research, Willd. Journal of Chemical and 5(24): 5871 – 5880. Pharmaceutical Research, 2(6):265-274. Nya, E.J. and Eka M.J. (2015) Morphological Scatena, V.L., Giuletti A.M., Borba E.L. and Van Characterization and Hybridization of der Berge C. (2005). Anatomy of the Talinum triangulare Land Races for Brazilian Ericaulaceae in correlation with Desirable Metric Characters in South taxonomy and habitat using multivariate Eastern Nigeria. The International analysis. Plant Systematics and Journal of Science & Technoledge, 3 (7): Evolutions, 253: 1 – 22. 192-197 Sridhar R. and Lakshminarayana G. 1993. Lipid Nyananyo, B.L. and Olowokudejo, J.D. (1986). Classes, Fatty Acids and Tocopherols of Taxonomic studies in the Genus Talinum Leaves of Six Edible Plant Species. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, Portulacaceae in Nigeria. Willdenowia, 15, 455-463. 41:61–63. Ogburn, R.M and Edwards E.J. (2009). Swarna, J. and Ravindhran R. (2013). Anatomical variation in Cactaceae and Pharmacognostical and phytochemical relatives: Traits liability and evolutionary evaluation of Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) innovation. American Journal of Botany, Willd. International Journal of Pharmacy 96(2):391-408. and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5(2): 249- 256 086 Adenegan-Alakinde & Ojo: Comparative Anatomical Studies of Two Species of Talinum Thakur, H.A and Patil D.A, 2011. The Foliar five species of the genus Senna epidermal studies in some hitherto (Leguminosae). Global Research Journal unstudied Euphorbiaceae. Current of Science, 93-97. http://www. Biology, 2(4): 22 – 30. academicpublication.org/grjs. Thanamool, C., Papirom P., Chanlum S. and Veselova T.D., Khalima Kh. D., Margarita V.R and Kopittayanant S. (2013). Talinum Alexander C.T. 2012. Embyology of paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn.: A medicinal Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. plant with potential estrogenic activity in and Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. ovariectomized rat. International Journal (Portulacaceae s.l. ). of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Wulfenia 19: 107 – 129 Sciences, 5(2): 478 – 485 Winkinson, H.P, (1979). The Plant surface (mainly Unamba, C.I.N., Magwu, F.N., Daru C.M., leaf). In Metcalfe, C.R and Chalk, L. (Eds). nd Inyama, C.N. and Osuoha, V.U.N. (2011). Anatomy of the Dicotyledons, 2 Comparative petiole anatomical features Edition, Oxford Clarendon, Press. 40 – 53 and their significance in the taxonomy of