ABSTRACT
A characterization of the leaf anatomy using herbarium specimens from the south and center of Venezuela, was carried out on 10 species of Panicum section Parvifolia which are difficult to be distinguished using morphological characters: P. arctum, P. fonticola, P. granuliferum, P. micranthum, P. pandum, P. petrense, P. polycomum, P. pyrularium, P. rivale and P. yavitaense. Characters such as the number of cells of the extensions of the vascular sheath, translucent cells in contact with the parenchymatous sheath, and characteristics of silica bodies, proved useful for delimitating some species. Additionally, significant differences in epidermal microhair size were found between studied species.
Key words:
Poaceae; Panicum; leaf anatomy; Venezuela