Article

The epidermis of 7 c10sely related and often misinterpreted species of Euphorbia subsect. Galarrhaei (E. squamigera, E. clementei, E. margalidiana. E. paniculata, E. bivonae. E. melitensis, and E. nereidum) were investigated under the light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Epidermis and stornata cell dirnensions, epidermis and stornata cell density, stornata! type, antic1inal wall thickening, papilla type, and trichorne length and omarnentation were studied. High intraspecific variability was observed in some characters. Trichorne omamentation supports the union of E. atlantis var. villosa and E. clementei var. villifolia in a single taxon: E. clementei subsp. villosa.