This study surveys the micromorphological surface structure of the leaves of the conifer genus
Agathis (
Araucariaceae) from throughout the range of the genus (Malaysia to New Zealand and Fiji) as seen with the scanning electron microscope. These data confirm that the vegetative parts of
Agathis are taxonomically highly conservative, but suggest the Melanesian and New Zealand elements to be distinctive from those of the rest of the genus, and from one another. Conclusions are compared with those that have been derived from studies based on other characters.
Key words
Araucariaceae
-
Agathis
- Anatomy - SEM leaf micromorphology