| The genus Machilus Nees (Lauraceae), with about 100 species, occurs mainly in tropical to subtropical Asia. Southwest of China and south China are the center of diversity for the genus of Machilus. Our study based on the former studies of taxonomy of Machilus Nees (Lauraceae). Based on available literatures and specimens of the genus of Machilus, investation and collection foucus on Machilus species were carried out. The morphology characters of leaves and leaf epidermis of the 17 Species of Machilus Nees was described and compared by using cluster analysis and principal components analysis. Nuclear simple sequence repeats (nSSRs) were also used to species identification. The main results of this study were revealed as follows.1. In measurement and analysis of morphology characters of leaves, the total of 17 species of Machilus could be classified into 7 groups, mainly dependent on ength and width of the leaves and the angle of the leaf base. But the boundary between the different taxonomic groups is uncertain, different species can’t be clearly separated. Thus, classification of Machilus species can’t only rely on the morphology of leaves.2. In the measurement and analysis of the characters of leaf epidermis, the 17 species of Machilus also can be classified as 7 groups according to the number of leaf epidermis cells and the quantitative characters of shape of celluar anticlinal wall. To identify machilus species, the motheds based on characters of leaf epidermis is more effective than based on leaves’morphology.3. Though the nSSR makers could not separate different Machilus species, whitch almost coincides with results of the leaf epidermis, shows the numerical taxonomy based on the characters of the leaf epidermis is useful. Thus, nSSRcould be used into taxonomy in future.4. All the results of three taxonomy methods could not be consistent with the traditional taxonomy of Machilus. So we consider that traditional taxonomy of Machilus is man-made but not a natural taxa. |
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