Vol. 4, Issue 10, Part E (2018)

Abstract
The physiological and anatomical feature (rate of transpiration, stomatal density and aperture) which accounts for plants relation to available soil water were used as an experimental tool to weigh and assesses some tropical trees viz; Acacia albida, Acacia senegal, Albizia lebbeck, Azadirachta indica, Balanites aegyptiaca, Cassia siamea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Prosofis juliflora potentials to water economy. Based on the findings of research, there is significant difference (P<0.05) found in the plants rate of transpiration, volume of water lost per unit time and stomatal frequency but no significant difference (P>0.05) observed in the plants stomatal aperture. However, based on the findings, the plants have been categories into three groups. The first group consists of E. camaldulensis and A. indica, these plants were found to have highest rate of transpiration, volume of water loss per unit time as well as stomatal density and aperture (8.4cm/min to 16.4cm/min rate and 95.0ml/24hrs to 186.6ml/24hrs volume, 82.3 to 105.2 stomatal frequency and 118.3µm² to 119.3µm² stomatal aperture). These plants were considered as plants with no or less water economic potential among the plants examined in this research. The second group which consists of A. lebbeck and B. aegyptiaca, plants in this group was considered as plants with moderate water economy moderate group while third group contains C. siamea, A. Senegal, P. Juliflora and A. albida were considered as group with high water economic potential. The findings conveyed the relationship between rate of transpiration and features of the stomata where it was found that plants with higher stomatal density and size had the highest rate of transpiration and volume of water loss.