Leaf anatomy of the South African Danthonieae (Poaceae): XIX. The genus Prionanthium

Abstract

The leaf blade anatomy of Prionanthium dentatum (L. f.) Henr.,  P. ecldonii (Nees) Stapf and  P. pholiuroides Stapf is described and illustrated. The transectional anatomy is non-Kranz with diffuse chlorenchyma. The adaxial epidermis has dome-shaped stomata, dumbbell-shaped to nodular silica bodies and elongated microhairs. The three species differ in the presence or absence of macrohairs, abaxial stomata and marginal linear, sessile glands. The latter character is shared with Pentaschistis triseta (Thunb.) Stapf and its allies, and relationships with  Pentaschistis are indicated rather than with any other extant arundinoid genus.