Research Training Program

Miranda Kahn
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Robert Faden, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Botany

"I learned new techniques, made a real contribution to my curator's research, and learned quite a lot about how a museum is run."

Epidermal Studies of Commelinaceae Leaves

Leaf epidermis of all three species of the genus Buforrestia was examined by means of paradermal sections, SEM photos, and clearings. The objective of the study was to determine which techniques would best reveal epidermal features, what features were present, what would be the best way to record the features found, and whether epidermal features could be useful for recognizing genera of Commelinaceae. Of the species examined, B. mannii and B. obovata were African and B. candolleana was South American. All three were herbaceous, perennial forest species.

This research was supported by a grant from the Educational Outreach Fund.