TRAITS OF THE CAPSULE AS TAXONOMIC CHARACTERS IN THE EAST-AFRICAN SPECIES OF CORCHORUS (TILIACEAE)

Vegetative and floral morphological characters are not of much signifi cance as taxonomic characters, compared to morphological traits of the capsule, in defining species of Corchorus. Shape, size, indumentum, w ings and horns of the capsule yield good taxonomic characters in ident ifying species. Based upon such traits, a dichotomous key has been con structed to identify East African species of Corchorus. Detailed descr iption of the capsule, together with the place of publication of the s pecies, information about the type specimen and range of distribution of the species in Africa are indicated.