Trichomes in Pavonia sect. Lopimia (Malvaceae): diversity and taxonomic significance

Species in Malvaceae exhibit a wide diversity of trichomes. These structures are important sources of taxonomic information and allow the infrageneric differentiation of groups within this taxon, especially for the genus Pavonia. This study aimed to revise and update the trichome diversity and its taxonomic relevance in Pavonia sect. Lopimia, and to establish trichome terminology. Trichome analyses were performed on leaves from 15 species of P. sect. Lopimia. Scanning electron microscopy revealed glandular and non-glandular trichomes, including simple, bifurcate, triradiate, tetraradiate, stellate, multiradiate, and sublepidote types. Critically, triradiate, tetraradiate, multiradiate, and sublepidote trichomes are newly documented for Pavonia.