Systematic Anatomy of Hesperomannia

THE GENUS Hesperomannia (Compositae, tribe Mutisieae) has attracted interest because of its arborescent habit, its restriction to certain of the Hawaiian Islands, and its rarity in the locations in which it is found. The purpose of the present paper is to survey the anatomical diversity which exists in the genus and relate it to gross morphological characters in an attempt to achieve an acceptable classification. The affinities of Hesperomannia, as suggested particularly in terms of anatomical characters, are to be discussed in later studies. Within the genus, however, anatomical features seem illuminating in demonstrating the most natural taxonomic groupings.