Abstract:Leaf epidermis characteristics of 41 species and 4 varieties, belonging to 14 genera in Rhamnaceae were observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the epidermis ornamentation of leaf in Rhamnaceae were corrugate or reticulate, surface nearly smooth with striate or scale. Stomata occurred only on abaxial surface except for Colubrina asiatica, and they are elliptic, ovate or round. The stomatal lids were smooth or had striate, granular, nodular, or scale appendages, and its inner margin were smooth, shallow wavy or revolute. The leaf micromorphology features could be used to distinguish some specific or intraspecific taxa.
