Anatomical characters of mangrove species have two important roles in mangrove studies that are as taxonomic supporting character and adaptation trait as a response to saline environment. Corks warts and sclereid are independent to environment, therefore those characters may be of taxonomic support. Mangrove species anatomical adaptation showed similar feature to drought stress or sclerophyll. The aim of this study is to distinguish anatomical characters of mangrove species that is taxonomical from habitat adaptation related anatomical characters. Fifteen true mangrove species from Banggai Kepulauan, Central Sulawesi and Banyuasin, South Sumatra were used to conduct this study. Paraffin method was used for leaf transversal section, while simple peeling using nitric acid was applied for epidermal section. The results showed that stomata distribution, cork warts, sclereid, and presence of water storage type were potential anatomical features for species identification. In addition, stomata type and epidermal cell walls also have the same potential but are still doubtful, therefore it will need to be studied further to ensure the useful of those characters. The use of anatomical characters for mangrove species identification, especially when they are in the vegetative stage, can quickly determine taxa at certain level. Those potential characters are such as glandular and non-glandular trichomes on the leaf surface.

Mangrove is an essential ecosystem that are located in the transition area of fresh and sea water. Therefore, species that grow are typical species that are able to adapt to the saline environment. The aim of this research is to characterize leaf anatomical structure for every species that compose the communities found in each mangrove zonations, including their similarities and dissimilarities characteristic. Sampling of examined leaf was carried out in the mangrove areas of Peling Island and Bakalan Island by making plots in four sites of the mangrove ecosystem area. Methods for leaf anatomical preparations were carried out using the paraffin-tert-butanol and paradermal sections. Anatomical characters as an adaptation to saline habitat are found in all species of mangrove plants, including thick cuticle and epidermal cells, thick leaves and water-storage tissue (hypodermis). In addition, there is found the presence of cork warts and sclereid as characteristic of the genus Rhizophora. Based on quantitative character observations, the mesophyll (palisade to sponge) ratio range from 0.28 ± 0.04 μm to 1.19 ± 0.42 μm, leaf thickness ratio 289,41 ± 38,21 μm to 695,20 ± 97,50 μm and the highest stomata density is owned by Lumnitzera littorea

Keanekaragaman tumbuhan tidak hanya terlihat secara morfologi, tetapi dapat dibedakan pula secara anatomi. Ciri anatomi dapat digunakan sebagai pendukung dan penguat pengklasifikasian jenis tumbuhan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui ciri anatomi daun yang dapat digunakan sebagai penciri taksonomi dalam suatu tingkatan taksa melalui perwakilan jenis. Jenis yang digunakan berjumlah 15, yang merupakan perwakilan dari 12 suku tumbuhan berbunga Indonesia. Metode parafin digunakan untuk mendapatkan penampang transversal dan metode perendaman dengan asam nitrit (HNO3) digunakan untuk mendapatkan penampang epidermis daun. Sebagian ciri anatomi pada penelitian dapat digunakan sebagai penciri suku hingga jenis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 15 jenis yang diamati memiliki kesamaan ciri anatomi dengan data penelitian terdahulu yang telah dilakukan baik pada tingkat suku, marga maupun jenis. Kesamaan ciri anatomi tersebut mencakup satu hingga beberapa ciri seperti tipe stomata, dinding antiklinal sel epidermis, jaringan mesofil, dan berkas pengangkut (tangkai daun dan tulang tengah daun). Kesamaan ciri yang didapatkan pada masing-masing jenis menunjukkan bahwa ciri pada struktur anatomi daun dapat menjadi bukti pembatasan takson pada tumbuhan berbunga.