Morphological Characterization of Four Indigenous Species of The Family Asteraceae and Their Taxonomic Relationships
This study investigated the morphological character of four selected species of the family Asteraceae—Vernonia amygdalina, Chromolaena odorata, Emilia coccinea, and Synedrella nodiflora—with the aim of elucidating their taxonomic relationships using diagnostic features. Morphological characterization was conducted using intangible and tangible traits of vegetative and reproductive structures, including stem, leaf, inflorescence, fruit, and seed features, following standard taxonomic procedures. Results obtained revealed significant variation in morphological feature of the species Asteraceae investigated. Quantitative measurement of the species revealed that Vernonia amygdalina recorded the highest leaf length (12.5 ± 1.2 cm), Leaf width (4.5 ± 0.4 cm) and Petiole length (2.5 ± 0.2 cm) while the least was obtained from Synedrella Nodiflora (5.5 ± 0.6 cm; 3.2 ± 0.4 cm; and 1.3 ± 0.2 cm). Comparative morphological analysis of Vernonia amygdalina, Chromolaena odorata, Emilia coccinea, and Synedrella nodiflora revealed both similarities and notable differences among the species. Vernonia amygdalina and Chromolaena odorata shared similarities in leaf morphology, stem characteristics, and inflorescence structure. Emilia coccinea displayed intermediate morphological features, while Synedrella nodiflora was distinct, with narrower leaves, reduced pubescence, and smaller capitula. A dichotomous key was constructed to facilitate identification of the species, and a cladogram based on combined morphological and chemical characters illustrated their taxonomic relationships. The findings demonstrate that integrating morphological data provides a reliable framework for species delimitation and understanding evolutionary relationships within the Asteraceae. The close affinity between V. amygdalina and C. odorata, the intermediate position of E. coccinea, and the distinct nature of S. nodiflora highlight the effectiveness of this combined approach.
Keywords: Morphology, Characterization, Vernonia amygdalina, Chromolaena odorata, Emilia coccinea, and Synedrella nodiflora Family, Asteraceae, Taxonomic Relationships.
