Several medicinal properties have been reported for plants in the genus Evolvulus, such as a brain tonic and antifungal from Evolvulus alsinoides, and a sedative and an anthelmintic from Evolvulus nummularius. Therefore, the correct identification of the source plants is critically important. The aim of this research was to investigate the micromorphology of two Evolvulus taxa used for herbal medicines compared with one worldwide ornamental species by using peeling, paraffin embedding, acetolysis, and SEM methods in order to support species identification. Our findings indicate that all taxa share several common features, such as a single layer of epidermis on both sides of leaf surfaces, sinuous anticlinal epidermal cell walls, anomocytic, paracytic or laterocytic stomata, and capitate glandular trichomes. Y-shaped hairs were found in two species but not in E. nummularius. Similarly, isobilateral mesophyll occurs in both E. alsinoides and Evolvulus glomeratus, but a dorsiventral mesophyll is present in E. nummularius. Stems consist of a single layer of epidermis, one to four chlorenchyma layers, one to seven layers of cortical cells and a bicollateral bundle with pith in the center. The seed coat epidermal cell shapes were irregular or polygonal with raised and undulated anticlinal boundaries, and folded or flattened to concave periclinal walls. Pollens of all taxa are monads, spheroidally shaped with 28–47 µm diameter, and 15-pantocolpate apertures type with microechinate ornamentation. An identification key to species is constructed based on leaf anatomy and seed coat characters. This data can be used in other subjects such as pharmaceutical botany, organic chemistry, taxonomy and horticulture, in terms of species identification.

The genus Argyreia Lour. is one of the species-rich Asian genera in the family Convolvulaceae. Several species complexes were recognized in which taxon delimitation was imprecise, especially when examining herbarium materials without fully developed open flowers. The main goal of this study is to investigate and describe leaf anatomy for some morphologically similar Argyreia using epidermal peeling, leaf and petiole transverse sections, and scanning electron microscopy. Phenetic analyses including cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used to investigate the similarity of these morpho-types. Anatomical differences observed between the morpho-types include epidermal cell walls and the trichome types on the leaf epidermis. Additional differences in the leaf and petiole transverse sections include the epidermal cell shape of the adaxial leaf blade, the leaf margins, and the petiole transverse sectional outline. The phenogram from cluster analysis using the UPGMA method represented four groups with an R value of 0.87. Moreover, the important quantitative and qualitative leaf anatomical traits of the four groups were confirmed by the principal component analysis of the first two components. The results from phenetic analyses confirmed the anatomical differentiation between the morpho-types. Leaf anatomical features regarded as particularly informative for morpho-type differentiation can be used to supplement macro morphological identification.

Classification of the banana family (Musaceae) into three genera, Musa, Ensete and Musella, and infrageneric ranking are still ambiguous. Within the genus Musa, five formerly separated sections were recently merged into sections Musa and Callimusa based on seed morphology, molecular data and chromosome numbers. Nevertheless, other key morphological characters of the genera, sections, and species have not been clearly defined. This research aims to investigate male floral morphology, classify members of the banana family based on overall similarity of morphological traits using 59 banana accessions of 21 taxa and make inferences of the evolutionary relationships of 57 taxa based on ITS, trnL-F, rps16 and atpB-rbcL sequences from 67 Genbank and 10 newly collected banana accessions. Fifteen quantitative characters were examined using principal component analysis and canonical discriminant analysis and 22 qualitative characters were analyzed by the Unweighted Pair Group Method with an Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA). The results showed that fused tepal morphology, median inner tepal shape and length of style supported the three clades of Musa, Ensete and Musella, while shapes of median inner tepal and stigma classified the two Musa sections. In conclusion, a combination of morphological characters of male flowers and molecular phylogenetics well support the taxonomic arrangement within the banana family and the Musa genus and assist in selection of characters to construct an identification key of Musaceae.

Thailand, a recognized cradle of diversity for the wild banana Musa acuminata , has long been considered home to four subspecies: siamea , burmannica , malaccensis , and microcarpa . However, recent extensive field surveys across the country have unveiled a more complex picture, necessitating a revision of their taxonomic classification. This study revisits the subspecific classification of M. acuminata in Thailand, reassessing the circumscriptions, descriptions, and distributions of previously recognized subspecies using morphological and biogeographic evidence. The findings reveal a distinct new subspecies, M. acuminata subsp. kraburiensis , located on the Isthmus of Kra. This subspecies is distributed in the transitional zone between M. acuminata subsp. siamea in northern Thailand and M. acuminata subsp. malaccensis in Peninsular Thailand. Furthermore, a northern occurrence of the latter subspecies was recorded, suggesting a potential dispersal route along the Thailand–Myanmar mountain range. Fieldwork revealed additional novel forms within existing subspecies, i.e., a putative mutant form with yellow inflorescence bracts and another form with unusual branching of the inflorescence. Finally, M. acuminata subsp. truncata was recorded for the first time in Thailand. Musa acuminata subsp. burmannica , M. acuminata subsp. burmannicoides , and M. acuminata subsp. microcarpa were not observed during the field survey. Based on the analysis of the M. acuminata subspecies complex in Thailand, the variation is best treated at the subspecies rather than the varietal level. A key for identifying M. acuminata subspecies in Thailand is presented here based on diagnostic characters such as leaf base shape, rachis position, imbrication type, and color of the male bracts.

Thailand, a recognized cradle of wild banana Musa acuminata diversity, has long been considered home to four subspecies: siamea, burmannica, malaccensis and microcarpa. However, recent extensive field surveys across the country have unveiled a more complex picture, necessitating a revision of their taxonomic classification. This study revisits the subspecific classification of M. acuminata in Thailand, reassessing the boundaries, descriptions, and distributions of previously reported subspecies using morphological and molecular data. Our findings reveal a distinct new subspecies, M. acuminata subsp. kraburiensis, located in the Kra Isthmus. This subspecies occupies a transitional zone between M. acuminata subsp. siamea in northern Thailand and M. acuminata subsp. malaccensis in peninsular Thailand. Notably, we also discovered a northern occurrence of the latter subspecies, suggesting a potential dispersal route along the Thailand-Myanmar mountain range. Furthermore, we document novel forms within existing subspecies, i.e., yellow bract mutants and aberration of male inflorescence architecture, in addition to a new subspecific record of subsp. truncata in Thailand. Conversely, neither subsp. burmannica, subsp. burmannicoides nor subsp. microcarpa were observed during this study. Based on our comprehensive analysis of the M. acuminata complex in Thailand, we advocate for maintaining subspecific rather than varietal designations. A key for identifying M. acuminata subspecies in Thailand based on critical diagnostic characters including leaf base shape, rachis position, and the aestivation and colour of male bracts, is presented.