COMPARATIVE OBSERVATION ON LEAF STRUCTURE OF TAXACEAE,CEPHALOTAXACEAE AND PODOCARPACEAE

A study on leaf epidermal and anatomical features under SEM and LM shows that it is confirmed to assign Pseudotaxus chienii (Cheng) which was originally described as Taxus chienii (Cheng) to a separate genus; it is rational to establish Sect.Pectinatae in the Cephalotaxus. The Cephalotaxaceae and the Amentotaxus of Taxaceae show many resemblance on leaf anatomical characters,but the Cephalotaxaceae appears to be closely related to Podocarpaceae on the basis of leaf epidermal features. These results suggest that the phylogenetic relationships are both intricate and related among the Taxaceae,Cephalotaxaceae and Podocarpaceae.