Hypolytrum Rich. (subfamily Mapanioideae) has a pantropical distribution being represented in the Neotropics by 16-21 species, most of them growing in several Brazilian ecosystems. Informations from foliar anatomy was analysed for 10 species of the genus. The most useful characters detected in Hypolytrum species studied here are: the shape of the leaves in cross section, the occurrence of granules (probably formed by silica) on the epidermal cells; features of the cuticle, the hypoderm and the aerenchymatous parenchyma; the number of layers and origin (hypodermal and epidermal) of bulliform cells; the presence of papillae on the abaxial face of the epidermis; and occurence of radiate parenchyma on the smaller bundles. Studies of foliar anatomy showed to be useful in generic and specific delimitation but do not support the taxonomic sections established.
Hypolytrum; Mapania; Cyperaceae; foliar anatomy; taxonomy
