Diagnostic leaf anatomical features of four Silene Caryophyllaceae, Auriculatae species in Iran

Abstract

The Silene Caryophyllaceae species are distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, Europe, Asia and northern parts of Africa. The section Auriculatae containing about 35 species, from which 21 are endemic to Iran.Leaf anatomical structure of 18 accessions of four Silene species as: S. commelinifolia ،S. lucida ،S. nurensis and S. eremicana was studied. Cross sections were made by hand and studied after double coloration. 14 qualitatitve and quantitative features were measured and evaluated. Statistical analysis reveled that features as collenchymas presence, hair density at dorsal and ventral leaf surface, shape of vascular bundle, abaxial shape of midrib, cuticle thickness at adaxial surface, leaf diameter at midrib and cortex diameter are significant characters. Present study shows that leaf anatomical features are of diagnostic importance. There is a close relationship between S. eremicana and S. lucida due to the similarity in collenchymas present and midrib shape. S. commelinifolia and S. nurensis show similarity due to absence of collenchymas. S. commelinifolia var. commelinifolia and S. commelinifolia var. ovatifolia inter-population variation was observed. These two varieties have different midrib and vascular bundle shape

Keywords

• leaf anatomy,Silene,population

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