A Contribution to the Taxonomy of the Genus Carduus L. (COMPOSITAE) in Kenya

Abstract

This study in Kenya is aimed that show at delimiting very close proved establishing infra specific where they have It is based been on herbarium African Herbarium the University Botanic collected from field (e.g. Nyeri for comparison. Six Fresh flowers (e.g. anthers and achenes) interlobal distance, calibrated in millimetres. specimens Light Microscopy have from pollen spine been taken Electron from fruit length 15-25 Microscopy pollen and disc and grains was used loan from the Royal from also examined been of the leaf petioles) the length, of mature florets, (e.g. styles, lobes, using a hand ruler grains obtained from acetolysed and used for (LM) and Scanning light microscopy, size, have Pollen (SEM). Under on collected components leaves been at the East (UPS) and material spines, in taxa (K) but originally the phyllaries, and and workers. obtained to ten measurements taken exist deposited Herbarium and Timboroa) width or both were herbarium those Kew Herbarium Kenya. to separate ranks specimens species affinities at by previous (EA) and of Uppsala Garden, difficult hinted Carduus morphological and have in the past whether those Electron Microscopy measurements interspinal of each of the distance species. Scanning to take micrographs ultrastructure. have ofliv) Features of the phyllaries, Carduus species construct keys found have (Vatke) Olivo & Hiern based on leaf features surfaces and number anthers and the subspecific level. Pollen found useful study and chamaecephalus accorded have as shape, A new Nine and species proposed at Olivo been species. Carduus to the specific have not been of the species. the taxonomy of the genus species and difficult platyphyllus in Kenya previously to separate / CardLJUS nyassanus and vicarious of the (Vatke) have ultrastructure recognition to lobes, length combination back / Carduus been variant margins, reinstated k.i kuyorum used chamaecephalus Carduus close been in Infraspecific an unknown delimited leaves have is C. chamaecephalus fruit infraspecific and ken i en ei e R.E.Fries leaf segments nanus. to be very and in Carduus Carduus such has refined vi z ., Carduus vary in the delimitation and has reasonably considered made achenes. has been florets the species. and of including platyphyllus This been level & Hiern subspecies recognized, in Kenya and delimit delimitations style, disc and to what populations. Carduus has also in the past