XVI International Botanical Congess

The study of pinnae traces in several species of Diplazium are provided in order to contribute to the knowledge of the genus and to ascertain its utility for the delimitation of the species or to form groups within the genus. The pinnae traces studied arise as an bundle from the adaxial end of one of the vascular bundles in the rachis or petiole, these are different of those of the Asiatic species. The data obtained show that the species studied can be separated in four groups by their pinna traces: closed with a belt, closed with patches, opened with patches and opened with a belt. The characters presented are useful to separate species in combination with the leaf characters.