Globales Journal für Biologie, Agrar- und Gesundheitswissenschaften

Abstrakt

Taxonomic Significance of Anatomical Characters in Some Species of Minuartia L. (Caryophyllaceae)

Sahar A.A. Malik Al-Saadi ,Sadeq Sabeeh Al-Taie

This paper elaborated the epidermis properties, transverse sections of leaves and stems of eight species of Minuartia. They are M.juniperina(L.) Maire & Petitm , M.hamata (Hausskn.) Mattf., M.hybrida (Vill.) Schischk., M.intermedia (Boiss.) Hand.-Mazz , M. meyeri (Boiss.)Bornm., M.montana L. and M. picta (Sibth. & Sm.) Bornm. It was clear that certain structural characteristics were of significant importance in separation of these taxa, such as anticlinal walls of epidermal cells in upper surface straight in M.picta, strongly undulate in M.juniperina , M. meyeri and M.intermedia, and sinuate in the remaining species. Number of epidermal cells is often recorded on the upper epidermis ranging between 52.80 and 579.22 cells/mm2 , while it was ranging between 60.11 and 606.31 cells/ mm2 on the lower epidermis in M.montana and M.hybrida. Three types of mesophyll has been recognized, dorsiventral (Bifacial) in the M.hybrida subsp. turcica, ground tissue in M. hamata and M.juniperina , as well as isobilateral in the remaining species. Anatomical characters of stems are semi-circular in most species except M. picta it was quadrangular but circular in M.intermedia and M.hybrida. The pericycle is wide and consists of 6-8 sclerenchyma cells in M. montana and 2-3 in M.hybrida, M.meyeri and M.intermedia, the other species between this range.