A Taxonomic Study Of Selected Genera Of Tiliaceae In Tropical East Africa

Abstract

The thesis is primarily a taxonomic revision of four genera of the family Tiliaceae, A Taxonomic Study Of Selected Genera Of Tiliaceae In Tropical East Africa Viz. Sparrmania, Corchorus, Triumfetta and Clappertonia, that are indigenous to Kenya. Two further aspects of the investigation are pollen grain studies of all the species concerned and karyotype determination of some species whose chromosome numbers have not been previously reported. A detailed morphological account of each species is prepared according to international convention. Morphological descriptions of vegetative and floral parts are presented, in many cases, having been prepared from observations on up to 100 herbarium specimens and a few fresh specimens. Keys are provided for the determination of the 4 genera and for the specie('of Corchorus and Triumfetta. Validity of each species is ascertained, correct spellings of names are indicated in cases where mis-spellings have occured and correct nomenclature is established in cases where there has been uncertainty.