Phytodermological Studies of Some Indigenous Leafy Vegetables of the Benin Speaking People of Edo State

Abstract

Thirty (30) taxa distributed in 28 species, 2 varieties, 23 genera and 18 dicotyledonous families have been compiled, documented and studied phytodermologicaliy as the traditional leafy vegetables (TLV) of the Benin speaking people of Edo State. Majority of the taxa studied were amphistomatic (30), three (03) were hypostomatic (Vernonia amvgdalina, Trytochiton scleroxylon and Plumbago zylanica,) and one species was epistomatic (Ficus hymenlops). Three (03) types of stomata were observed. Anomocytic stomata (18) were more, five (05) were paracytic- (“ebe ododonebo”-Basella alba, “ebeiyanebo” - Ipomea batatas, “ebebgahi” - Manihot esculenta, “okpun” - F. hymenlops and “ebeodondondon”-Talinum fruticosum) and six were diacytic (“scent leaf” - Basilium polystachyon, “ebehi”- Hyptis sauveolens “ebehihi”- Ocimum basilicum, “ebeamwonkhio”- O. gratissumum, “ebe ighalo”- Brillantaisia owareinsis and “ebeakghodor”). Twenty-nine taxa had large stomata while only B. owariensis had small stomata. No correlation could be drawn between the growth habit and the type of stomata. Eglandular unicellular trichomes were observed in 2 species Myrianthus arboreus and B. owariensis. Majority of the epidermal walls were wavy with only 8 species straight walled on both surfaces. Three (03) species had both straight and sinuous surfaces-alba Corchrous olitorius and C. tridents.