FOLIAR FEATURES OF ALTERNANTHERA (FORSSK.) SPECIES OF SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS OF KERALA

Seven species of the genus Alternanthera of Amaranthaceae family were analyzed through foliar characteristics. The leaf shapes, stomatal index, type of stomata and foliar trichomes have been studied. Four species viz. A. philoxeroides, A. tenella var. tenella, A. paronychioides and A. brasiliana were observed to have trichomes which were elongated and multicellular. The typical stomatal pattern was diacytic though there occur other types like anisocytic in fewer densities. The stomatal index was highest for A. paronychioides and least for A.pungens. The study gives an insight into the applicability of foliar traits in the systematic studies of Alternanthera genus.