Regular articleFoliar trichomes of the evergreen and semi-deciduous species of the genusQuercus(Fagaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

The leaf trichomes of the evergreen and semi-deciduous species of the genusQuercusliving in the Iberian Peninsula were studied by means of SEM and LM. The SEM has been particularly useful because of the high quality of the illustrations and the possibility of recognizing the structures under LM or the stereomicroscope afterwards. The studied species were:Quercus coccifera, Q. ilex, Q. rotundifolia, Q. suber, Q. canariensis, Q. faginea, Q. broteroiandQ. lusitanica.All species show some exclusive particularities that permit their identification using these characters. The abaxial surface of the leaf always has more trichomes than the adaxial and hence provides more characters for identification.Quercus alpestrisBoiss. shows the same features in the leaf trichomes asQ. fagineaLam. A key for identification using these characters is provided.