Comparative morpho-micrometric analysis of some Bauhinia species (Leguminosae) from east coast region of Odisha, India

169-184Bauhinia vahlii has been reported for several medicinal properties, such as tyrosinase inhibitory, immunomodulatory and free radical scavenging activities. Bauhinia tomentosa and Bauhinia racemosa also possess anti-diabetic, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity and antihyperlipidemic activities. Therefore, the correct identification of these plants is critically important. The aim was to investigate the comparative morpho-micrometric analysis of 3 species of Bauhinia belonging to the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae) by using conventional as well as scanning electron microscopy to support species identification. In B. racemosa, epidermal cells are polygonal with anticlinical walls; whereas wavy walled cells are found in B. tomentosa and B. vahlii. Anisocytic stomata are present in B. racemosa, while B. tomentosa shows the presence of paracytic stomata and anomocytic stomata in B. vahlii. Stomatal numbers and stomatal indices were found to be more in B. vahlii than B. tomentosa and B. racemosa. On the other hand, uniseriate, unicellular covering trichomes are found in B. racemosa and B. tomentosa but B. vahlii contains only uniseriate, multicellular covering trichomes. Based on these micromorphological features, a diagnostic key was developed for identification of the particular species which helps a lot in pharmaceutical botany, taxonomy and horticulture, in terms of species identification