ABSTRACT
This paper presentsttthe foliar anatomy of Hibiscus tiliaceus L. and Hibiscus pernambucensis Arruda. These two species of the Malvaceae family are of very controversy, because they are very similar taxa. The species were collected at Saí Beach, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The morphological and anatomical observations showed that the species have very distinctive characteristics and they are of the great usefulness, for diagnostic value, that confirm to treat of two distinct species. We have concluded that H. tiliaceus is distinct from H. pernambucensis because it shows , among others, the following characteristics: the petals have a purple red basal spot, the leaves are cartaceous, the epicuticular striae are present on the adaxial epidermal cells, the stellate hairs are less abundant, the mucilaginous idioblasts appear on the upper epidermis, the hipodermis is present on the mibrid and mucilage ducts are more abundant and show regular distribution.
Key Words:
Malvaceae; leaf anatomy; Hibiscus