Eduarda Silva Author

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Contribution to the Identification of Toxic Vascular Plants by the Epidermis of the Epicarp of Fleshy Fruits

Author(s):

Gonçalo Ferreira, Eduarda Silva and António Pereira Coutinho

Objective: The main objectives of the present work were: 1) to securely identify the fleshy fruits of a relevant number of species of toxic vascular plants by their epicarp features; 2) to draw attention to the potential of fruit micromorphology in the identification of poisonous plants and in plant taxonomy.

Methods: The epicarp sections were bleached with sodium hypochlorite, mounted on microscopy slides and observed through light microscopy. Micrometry was done for a number of characters.

Results: A histological description for the epicarp epidermis of each taxon was provided. A dichotomous key that differentiates all the species studied was produced.

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