Taxonomic relevance of calcium oxalate cuticular deposits in Dracaena Vand. ex L.

Detection of cuticular crystals in the 14 species of Dracaena examined indi cated that they are probably ubiquitous throughout the genus and may permit rapid separation of dracaenas from plants with similar leaves such as the cordylines (Cordyline sp.). Dracaena species of the dragon tree group depos it the greatest quantity of uniformly small cuticular crystals. However, th e distinction between individual species within this grouping, based solely on crystal numbers and size, is not sufficient for taxonomic separation. A ll other species of Dracaena studied did display species-specific quantitie s and sizes of cuticular crystals. This, in combination with characteristic s of the leaf epidermis, could serve as part of a taxonomic key to the genu s.