AbstractThe foliar anatomy of fourCelosiaspecies occurring in southwestern Nigeria is described. The distinguishing characteristics of taxonomic value include the petiole shapes in distal, median and proximal regions, arrangement of vascular supply to the petioles, presence or absence of protuberances on the polar ends of the stomata and size as well as the arrangement of crystals in the leaf blade. The use of anatomy in distinguishing two closely related speciesC. argenteaandC, cristatais discussed.