Morphological Description and Culm Anatomy in the Identification of Kyllinga Rottb. (Cyperaceae) from Some Parts of Nigeria

Comparative culm anatomical and morphological descriptions of 12 taxa of Kyllinga collected from different parts of Nigeria were carried out to enhance the identification of the taxa. The number of flower-head vary from 1 – 6 while the sizes vary from the flower-head in K. erecta, K. erecta var. erecta, K. erecta var. polyphylla and K. peruviana is one, K. odorata, K. nemoralis, and K. pumila 1-4, K. erecta var. africana 4, K. tenuifolia 3-4 and K. brevifolia 1-3. K. erecta var. erecta has 2-3 bracts, K. erecta 3-4, K. erecta var. polyphylla 5-6, K. odorata 3-6, K. nemoralis 4-6, K. pumila 1-5, K. bulbosa 5 and K. peruviana 3. The leaf sheaths are partly wrapped to the culm in K. nemoralis, K. odorata, and K. pumila; completely wrapped with overlap in K. erecta var. erecta and K. peruviana and completely wrapped without overlap in other species. K. pumila, K. tenuifolia, and K. erecta var. africana rhizomes are partly erect. K. nemoralis trails on the soil surface while the remaining trail beneath the ground. The culm anatomy in transverse view is triangular (K. erecta, K. erecta var. erecta, K. erecta var. polyphylla and K. bulbosa), triangular-hexagonal (K. nemoralis, K. erecta var. africana, K. odorata and K. tenuifolia), triangular-polygonal (K. brevifolia) or oval-circular (K. pumila and K. peruviana) with aggregation of vascular bundles on the peripheral and inner portions of the culm. K. erecta has 2-layers of vascular bundles, K. peruviana 4-layers of vascular bundles while others have 3-layers of vascular bundles. The number of flower-head, sizes, bract number, and culm anatomy were observed to be diagnostic among these species.

STEM ANATOMY OF SOME SPECIES OF PASSIFLORA (PASSIFLORACEAE)

The stem anatomy of Passiflora edulis, P. foetida, P. suberosa, P. subpeltata, and P. vesicaria was studied in samples collected in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa) and Baroda (Vadodara, Gujarat State, India). Radial stem growth in all the species is realized by a single, bidirectional vascular cambium. However, unequal activity in small segments of the cambial cylinder results in a lobed stem outline in P. foetida var. ellisonii, and a furrowed xylem cylinder in P. edulis f. edulis and P. vesicaria var. vesicaria. In P. subpeltata and P. edulis f. flavicarpa the xylem remains cylindrical in outline. In all the species investigated, secondary xylem is diffuse-porous with growth rings indistinct or absent. In transverse view, vessels are round to oval with different diameter categories, including very narrow fibriform vessels intermixed. In P. edulis f. edulis, stems are lobed due to the unidirectional activity of the cambium in small segments. Rays are mostly both narrow (1–3-seriate) and wide (multiseriate). The latter often become aggregate at some distance from the pith.

Measuring diameters of great saphenous vein and common femoral vein using duplex ultrasound

SummaryFor years, measurement of the diameter of the great saphenous vein and, occasionally, the common femoral vein has been a component of many clinical studies on varicose vein treatment. There is consensus that the measurements should be conducted with the patient in the standing position and with a transverse view through the vein, but no standardised site of measurement of the venous diameter has yet been established. The shape of the great saphenous vein varies greatly at the saphenofemoral junction. Due to the curvature of the great saphenous vein, it is difficult to find a point at which the transverse view measured is at right angles to the course of the vein. According to the available data, the optimal site for measuring the great saphenous vein diameter is the proximal thigh. When measuring the common femoral vein, a transverse view immediately distal to the junction of the great saphenous vein is suggested and studies have also confirmed this.