Morphological and Anatomical Characteristics of Laurus nobilis L. (Defne)

Öz

Laurus L. (Lauraceae), generally known by its Turkish scientific name "Defne" is represented in the Flora of Turkey by Laurus nobilis L. In Türkiye, its leaves are mostly preferred for traditional use, and infusions prepared from the leaves are used in the treatment of colds and asthma. In the present study, the morphological and anatomical characteristics of L. nobilis were determined using a light microscope. The pollen morphology of the species was examined using a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). The leaves are dark green, alternately arranged, and lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate in shape. The leaf is hypostomatic, and the mesophyll is dorsiventral. Large secretory cells (idioblasts) are observed between palisade parenchyma cells and in the midrib region. In the fruit, the exocarp consists of a single layer of square or rectangular-shaped cells arranged in a regular pattern. The pollen grains of the species are spherical in shape, and their outline is circular in polar view. The exine sculpture is echinate in the equatorial region and microgemmate–microechinate in the polar regions. The findings obtained from this study will serve as a source for future taxonomic studies on L. nobilis species distributed in Türkiye.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anatomy
• L.nobilis
• Morphology
• SEM

Defne (Laurus nobilis L.) Türünün Morfolojik ve Anatomik Özellikleri

Öz

Bilimsel Türkçe adı “Defne” olarak bilinen Laurus L. (Lauraceae) cinsi, Türkiye Florası'nda Laurus nobilis L. ile temsil edilir. Türkiye'de geleneksel kullanım için çoğunlukla yaprakları tercih edilir ve yapraklarından hazırlanan infüzyon, soğuk algınlığı ve astım tedavisinde kullanılır. Mevcut çalışmada L. nobilis' in morfolojik, anatomik özellikleri ışık mikroskobu ile belirlenmiştir. Türün polen morfolojisi ise SEM (Taramalı Elektron Mikroskop) ile incelenmiştir. Yapraklar koyu yeşil, alternat dizilişli, mızraksı veya dikdörtgensi-mızraksı. Yaprak, hipostomatik olup, mezofil dorsiventraldir. Palizat parankima hücreleri arasında ve orta damar bölgesinde büyük salgı hücreleri (idioblastlar) gözlenir. Meyvede ekzokarp kare, dikdörtgen şeklinde düzenlenmiş hücrelerin tek bir tabakasından oluşur. Türün polen taneleri küresel şekildedir ve kutup görünümünde ana hatları daireseldir. Ekzin skulptürü ekvatoral bölgede kirpimsi dikencikli (ekinat), kutuplarda ise mikrogemmat-mikroekinattır. Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular Türkiye'de yayılış gösteren L. nobilis türleri üzerinde yapılacak taksonomik çalışmalara kaynak oluşturacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anatomi
• L. nobilis
• morfoloji
• SEM

Kaynakça

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