Assessment of qualitative stem parameter in the Tangential Longitudinal Section (TLS) of Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus altilis and Artocarpus camansi

Ebele Josephine Ikwuanusi (Department of Biology Education, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State, Nigeria)

SciencePlus
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): SciencePlus

Taxonomy of the genus Artocarpus is sometimes difficult because of similar external morphology. While detailed internal anatomical profiling of secondary xylem tissues is needed to classify the wood correctly, detailed qualitative evaluations of the stem are still relevant for species-level ambiguities across regional species. The aim of this study is the assessment of the qualitative stem parameters of the tangential longitudinal section (TLS) of Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus altilis and Artocarpus camansi. The plant samples were collected from Aguluezechukwu, Anambra State, Nigeria and were identified by a plant taxonomist with voucher numbers NAUH-264A, NAUH-077B and NAUH-265A respectively. Microscopic analyses showed that the taxa exhibited different structural features. In particular, active vessels, nonstoried septate fibres and a wide range of parenchyma ray structures (uniseriate, biseriate, and prominent multiseriate) were found in A. heterophyllus and A. altilis. A. camansi on the other hand lacks vessels in the planes analyzed tangentially and has a simple ray profile with only uniseriate and biseriate rays and no multiseriate rays. Nonstoried septate fibres, on the other hand, are constant in the three species. Finally, the different micromorphological variations can be useful diagnostic criteria and taxonomic characters for proper species distinction and anatomical identification among the genus Artocarpus.