"Review and update of parameters for classification of trichomes in Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae)"
Crotoneae - Leaf indument - Trichome typologies - Webster et al. 1996
The Crotoneae tribe, belonging to Euphorbiaceae, is found by Croton L., Acidocroton Griseb., Astraea Klotzch, Brasiliocroton P. And Berry & Cordeiro, Sagotia Baill. and Sandwithia Lanj. Leaf trichomes have helped in infrageneric delimitations within this group, making trichome typologies an important taxonomic character within the tribe, and Croton the most representative genus in number of species, being the most studied, and having part of its diversity reflected in the trichomes. Despite the importance of a classic work for Croton trichomes, widely used even in other botanical groups, the need for a review was perceived. Thus, the objectives of this work were to review the most used classification for Croton in the light of new anatomical and morphological information, and to propose a new classification of trichomes for the genus based on an extensive inventory, establishing parameters that encompass all its morphological and phylogenetics. From a database, fed by experts in Euphorbiaceae and analysis of clearing images and scanning electron microscopy, we analyzed 94 species, complemented with literature review of 102 species, with all material distributed in 18 sections of Croton. A single type of glandular trichome – peltate – and six types of non-glandular trichomes (tectors) were recognized: simple, stellate, pin cushion, dendritic, multiradiated and lepidote, in addition to their subtypes. The simple trichome was recognized as a type itself, rather than a simple reduction of the stellate and multiradiate type, with the exclusion of the stellate and multiradiate trichome subtypes, synonymization of the stellate fasciculate and multiradiate rosulate types, reflecting the update of the previously considered fasciculated cuhion shaped in pin cushion, in the new record of the presence of the stem in lepidote trichomes; in the observation of the porrecto arm in dendritic trichomes and in the reduction of the 5 subtypes of lepidote, in only partially or fully fused lepidote. This study consisted of establishing parameters and terminology in a robust sampling, demonstrating fundamental aspects for a universal classification.