To evaluate the utility of morpho-anatomical leaf characters in the identification of botanic material of Campomanesia Ruiz & Pavón, especially when sterile, leaf venation pattern and shape of the vascular arch in the petiole of 15 taxa in Bahia state were analysed. The camptodromous-brochydodromous secondary venation pattern was uniform among the taxa, as well as the ultimate marginal venation in arches and orthogonal reticulate tertiary venation. Diff erences were observed in the presence of intersecondary veins and areolation in the leaf blade, and shape of the vascular arch and nature of the vascular bundle sheaths in the petiole, characters that could be used for taxonomic purposes.
venation; leaf anatomy; taxonomy; Myrtaceae; Bahia
