MACROMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE VEGETATIVE AND FLORAL ORGANS OF Kalanchoe pinnata (Crassulaceae) FROM SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA.


The vegetative and floral morphology of Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. was studied with the motive of providing information for the characterization, identification and improvement of its classification. The plant is erect, branched, perennial shrub, about 100cm tall. The stem is ribbed and glabrous; leaves are simple succulent, opposite, glabrous, obovate, crenate-serrate, margin apex acute and base rounded, 12cm long and 8cm wide, subtended by a petiole, 3-5cm long; inflorescence is a terminal panicle, arranged on peduncle, 7cm long; flowers are showy, bisexual, actinomorphic; perianth 4-lobed and fused; fruit is a follicle. The vegetative and floral morphological characters of Kalanchoe pinnata are discussed in line with their importance in the taxonomy of this medicinal plant. Keywords: Macromorphology, Kalanchoe pinnata, Identification, Classification


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