Author(s): Iroka Finian Chisom, Okereke Chukwu N. and Okeke C. U.

Abstract: Acomparative FoliarAnatomy and Morphology study was carried out on Anacardium occidentale L. and Spondias mombin L. These are perennial trees, belonging to the family of flowering plants Anacardiaceae, which are cultivated throughout the world for their edible fruits and seeds, medicinal compounds, valuable timber and landscape appeal. The anatomical and morphological foliar features shows that anomocytic and diacytic stomata type occurred in both species and the number of stomata found in S. mombin was twice that of A. occidentale with about 47 and 45 stomata present on the abaxial and adaxial part of the leaves respectively. A. occidentale consist of no stoma on the adaxial, but has about 25 stomata on the abaxial surface. Other features which were present include the guard cells, elongated epidermal cells and subsidiary cells. In their anatomy, a rod-like-shaped structure occurred inA. occidentale whereas a bee cone-like-shaped structure occurred in S. mombin which revealed the character that help in their classification. More so, xylem, phloem, upper and lower epidermis, palisade and cuticle that covered the epidermis also occurred in both species. These features however, uphold their close taxonomic relationship in the family Anacardiaceae.