Open Access

ARTICLE

Leaf architecture characters of Vachellia tortilis (Forssk.) Galasso and Banfi along longitudinal gradient in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Mashile SP^1,2, MP Tshisikhawe¹

1 Department of Botany, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa.
2 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.

* Corresponding Author:Address Correspondence to: Peter Milingoni Tshisikhawe, e-mail:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2015, 84(2), 473-477. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2015.84.473

Abstract

This paper looked at the leaf architecture characteristics of Vachellia tortilis to determine if either there is or not an effect of the tropic line on plants. Vachellia tortilis leaves were sampled along a national road (N1) in Limpopo province. Sampling points were set 10 km apart away from the Tropic of Capricon in opposite directions. Leaf morphology revealed that leaves of V. tortilis are bipinnately compound with alternate arrangement. The venation pattern of the pinnules was eucamptodromus and brochidodromous with imperfect reticulation. Areoles were imperfect and pentagonal or irregular in shape.

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Keywords

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