Nutlet sculpturing of selectedTeucrium species (Lamiaceae): A character of taxonomic significance

Nutlet sculpturing of 23Teucrium species belonging to six sections was studied. The nutlets of analysed species were characterized by the presence of the oil glands of various density. SectionTeucrium is well defined by very densely distributed trichomes and oil glands on nutlets. Trichomes on nutlets were absent in all other species, except inT. marum from sect.Chamaedrys. Sect.Polium is a homogeneous group, distinguished from the other sections. There are some similarities of this sect. with sect.Scordium. Species of sect.Chamaedrys are heterogeneous and overlap according to the surface sculpturing characters with the other sections. The significance of nutlet microcharacters as additional taxonomical markers in the infrageneric classification of the genusTeucrium is discussed.     

Biodiversity characteristics of Teucrium polium species in Saudi Arabia

Teucrium (Lamiaceae) is a large and polymorphic genus distributed mainly in Europe, North Africa and in the temperate parts of Asia. In this study, the anatomical features of the leaf and stem of Teucrium polium are investigated. Teucrium has 19 taxa in Iran, which mainly grow in the Irano-Turanian region between 700 and 2000 m above sea level. T. polium belonging to sect. Polium, is a perennial herb growing on Lorestan province. The leaves clearly exhibit xeromorphy due to features such as thick cuticle layer, thick outer epidermal cell wall, high density of trichomes and thick palisade layer of the mesophyll. Anatomical studies on T. polium revealed that the stem shares the general characteristics of the Labiatae family. The aim of our approach was to study the morphological and taxonomical parameters for T. polium in Saudi Arabia. The results of this study showed that there was no influence of environment on the structure of stomata and trichomes as studying species with T.polium. In conclusion our study shows we have studied the geographical distribution of the species in Saudi Arabia and in the world.     

Anatomical and nutlet differentiation between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teucrium montanum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. polium</Emphasis> from Turkey

Teucrium montanum L. and T. polium L. are the two closest Teucrium L. species from sect. Polium (Mill.) Schreb in Turkey. In addition, they are sympatric for some part of their range in Turkey. In this study, comparative anatomical and micromorphological studies of the two species are carried out. They have been investigated by their leaf and stem anatomical features, as well as nutlet micromorphological characteristics. The results of anatomical studies show that the anatomical characters of both taxa are observed to be similar to the general features of the family Lamiaceae anatomy, except for lacking rich collenchyma at the corners. Both taxa are similar in stem anatomy and their leaves exhibit xeromorphy. However, trichome morphology on the stems and the leaves appear to have a taxonomic value in segregation of the two taxa. Light and scanning electron microscope studies on the nutlets also show that nutlet shapes, measures and surface micromorphologies are different in the two species. Whereas nutlet surfaces are bireticulate in both species, the nutlets are larger and primary sculpturing is more distinct in T. polium than in T. montanum. Moreover, the nutlets are oblong to oblong-ovoid and larger in T. polium, but ovoid and smaller in T. montanum.     

Anatomical and micromorphological studies on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teucrium</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isotriodon</Emphasis> (Lamiaceae) in Turkey with a taxonomic note

In this study, the anatomical features of the leaf and stem, besides the nutlet characteristics of some Teucrium sect. Isotriodon (Lamiaceae) taxa in Turkey, T. montbretii Betham subsp. montbretii, T. montbretii subsp. pamphylicum P. H. Davis, T. odontites Boiss. &; Bal., T. cavernarum P. H. Davis, T. antitauricum T. Ekim, along with an isolated population of T. montbretii (T. montbretii subsp.) were investigated. The anatomical studies revealed that the taxa share generally similar anatomical characters, such as thicker upper leaf cuticles and larger upper leaf epidermal cells compared to lower ones and diacytic to anomocytic stomata on the leaves. However, the portion of the mesophyll occupied by palisade parenchyma and the occurrence of mucilage cells in leaf epidermis shows difference among the taxa. Furthermore, the studied taxa have general stem characteristics of the Lamiaceae family, except for having poorly developed collenchyma at the corners. With the amphistomatic leaves and developed sclerenchymatic tissue in the leaf median vein, T. cavernarum is seperated from the other taxa. Trichome types on the vegetative organs and nutlet shape and sculpturing are generally the same or similar in the studied taxa, but trichomes on the nutlets are different among them. Based on nutlet characteristics and some morphological ones, it was revealed that the isolated population of T. montbretii represent a new subspecies, T. monbretii subsp. yildirimlii M.Dinç &; S.Do?u subsp. nov.     

The anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia vermifolia</Emphasis> (Section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aethiopis</Emphasis> Bentham,Lamiaceae) from Central Anatolia,Turkey

The gross anatomical features, namely stem, blade and petiole and the micromorphological features, trichome, pollen and nutlet of Salvia vermifolia Hedge & Hub.-Mor. (Sect. Aethiopis Bentham, Lamiaceae) were examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). S. vermifolia is a perennial endemic herb growing on igneous and serpentine slopes in Sivas province, Central Anatolia, Turkey. The results obtained from anatomical studies show that the stem is made up of 4–8-layers of collenchyma cells and 1-3-layers chlorenchyma cells. The blade is amphistomatic, bifacial, with 2-3-layered palisade cells on the adaxial. The petiole has three large central bundles and six small subsidiary bundles. Peltate glandular, capitate glandular and non-glandular trichomes are present in S. vermifolia. The peltate glandular trichomes are present in abundance on the calyx and corolla, and capitate glandular trichomes are predominant on the calyx, inflorescence axis, pedicel and stem. The acicular non-glandular trichomes are mainly situated on the calyx, corolla, inflorescence axis and pedicels whereas the floccose non-glandular trichomes are common on both sides of the leaf, inflorescence axis and petiole. The pollen grains are hexacolpate to octacolpate, medium to large (P, polar axis=45.29–62.49 μm; E, equatorial axis=45.32-62.38 μm), oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal (P/E=0.91–1.02) and their exine ornamentation is bireticulate. The nutlets are 2.70–2.90 mm long and 1.90–2.13 mm wide, brown, ovoid-oblong in their outline, rounded-trigonous in transverse section, and their surface is glabrous and colliculate.     

Morphology and distribution of trichomes in Italian species ofTeucrium sect.Chamaedrys (Labiatae) — a taxonomical evaluation

Micromorphology and distribution of trichomes (both secretory and not) in different parts of plants of the five Italian species belonging toTeucrium sect.Chamaedrys have been studied. These characters neatly evidence the differences between the taxa considered; of particular interest are the observations concerning the dense coverage of peltate hairs on the abaxial face of the leaves ofT. flavum subsp.glaucum and the characters contributing to a better identification ofT. marum andT. subspinosum. The importance of the calyx indumentum as distinctive taxonomical character of the genusTeucrium is confirmed, stressing at the same time the necessity of completing the observations at micromorphological level.     

中国瓜馥木属植物叶片结构的解剖观察

采用叶片表皮离析法、扫描电镜和石蜡制片法,研究了中国分布的番荔枝科瓜馥木属19种植物叶片的形态结构。结果表明:瓜馥木属叶片形态和结构具有较多的相似性,如叶片表皮均具有2-多个细胞的单列丝状毛,表皮细胞内具有一个晶簇,气孔器均为平列型,只分布在叶片的远轴面,远轴面的表皮细胞平周壁形成一个乳突,叶片主脉的维管组织除具有正常的维管组织外,还具有一个小的副维管束等,这些特征有助于区分番荔枝科植物的属间关系,支持瓜馥木属是一个很自然的类群。但叶片表皮毛的形态及分布,表皮细胞的形状、叶肉中栅栏组织和海绵组织的结构、远轴面的乳突大小以及叶主脉维管组织的细微结构则具有种间差异。尤其有助于区分小萼瓜馥木和黑风藤、广西瓜馥木和独山瓜馥木、上思瓜馥木和东方瓜馥木等形态相似、难以区分的植物种类。该研究结果为该属的系统研究和种间正确区分提供了重要资料。     

Trichome micromorphology in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teucrium</Emphasis> (Lamiaceae) species growing in Croatia

Micromorphological investigation of the types, dimensions and distribution of characteristic trichomes in leaves and stems in Teucrium L. species (T. arduini L., T. chamaedrys L., T. flavum L., T. montanum L., T. polium L., and T. scordium L. subsp. scordioides Schreb.) distributed in Croatia was carried out as part of the taxonomical study of the genus Teucrium. Secretory types of hairs, peltate and capitate hairs were observed on the epidermis of stems and leaves of all investigated species. Non-secretory, acicular hairs were almost completely lacking on stems of T. scordium subsp. scordioides. Flagelliform hairs were not found in T. flavum and T. polium. Cladose hairs were present only in T. polium. The largest micromorphological variability was established between wild and cultivated samples of T. arduini and T. scordium subsp. scordioides, while cultivated and wild specimens of T. polium were almost identical. Differences were primarily observed in trichome dimensions and much less in micromorphological features.     

COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF SOME PARENTS AND HYBRIDS OF THE HAWAIIAN MADIINAE (ASTERACEAE)

Comparative leaf morphology and anatomy was examined in five species and four hybrids involving three genera of Hawaiian Madiinae (Asteraceae). The comparisons included Argyroxiphium grayanum, Dubautia ciliolata subsp. ciliolata, D. knudsenii subsp. knudsenii, D. scabra subsp. leiophylla, D. scabra subsp. scabra, and Wilkesia gymnoxiphium, and the hybrids A. grayanum × D. scabra subsp. leiophylla, D. ciliolata subsp. ciliolata × D. scabra subsp. scabra, D. knudsenii subsp. knudsenii × D. scabra subsp. leiophylla, and W. gymnoxiphium × D. scabra subsp. leiophylla. Foliar morphology, leaf tissue organization, and various characters of stomata and trichomes were compared, using epidermal peels, cross and paradermal sections, and clearings of leaves. Pronounced anatomical differences among these closely related taxa were characterized, and effects of hybridization on the expression of anatomical features were documented. Most comparisons of parents and hybrids revealed statistically significant differences in leaf size, distribution of adaxial and abaxial stomata, and marginal and surface trichomes. In most instances hybrids demonstrated intermediate status in their foliar characters, indicating that these features are inherited from both parents. However, differences in foliar characters were usually of sufficient magnitude to allow recognition of hybrids as well as parents.     

Anatomy,trichome morphology and palynology of Salvia chrysophylla Stapf (Lamiaceae)

The anatomy, palynology, morphology and distribution of the trichomes on the aerial parts of Salvia chrysophylla Stapf, an endemic species in Turkey, were studied in order to understand the usefulness of these characteristics for systematic purposes. Some anatomical characters such as (1–)2–24-rowed pith rays in roots, dorsiventral leaves, obviously larger upper epidermal cells, and two to three large vascular bundles in the center and two to four small subsidiary bundles in the wings of petiole provide information of taxonomical significance. Three main types of trichomes were observed on the stem, inflorescence axis, leaf and calyx surfaces of S. chrysophylla. They are peltate, capitate glandular and non-glandular. Capitate glandular and non-glandular trichomes were further subdivided into several kinds. Glandular trichomes are present in abundance on the inflorescence axis and calyx, but non-glandular ones were mainly situated on the leaf and stem. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies on the pollen grains have revealed that they are oblate-spheroidal and their exine ornamentation is bireticulate-perforate.     

Tissue organisation,pollen receptivity and pollen tube guidance in normal and mutant stigmas of the grass Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) Stapf et Hubb.

Summary The normal stigma of Pennisetum typhoides is twin-branched, each branch bearing unbranched trichomes. As is general among the grasses, the papillate cells of the trichomes possess a discontinuous cuticle with overlying protein and polysaccharide secretions. These adaptations for pollen capture and hydration are absent from the stigma axes. Pollen tubes emerging from grains received on the trichomes are guided into the axes with the tips directed towards the ovary by the architecture of the basal cell complex. There are no defined transmitting tracts in the stigma axes, and further passage is through intercellular spaces of a tissue of elongated cells between the epidermis and the central vascular strands. In the mutant tr, tr, the stigmas are twin-branched, but lack trichomes. However, the principal adaptations of the trichome cells for the capture and hydration of pollen are expressed in the epidermal cells of the branches, which have permeable cuticles and the characteristic surface secretions. Pollen tubes emerging from grains germinating on the branches enter between the files of epidermal cells, or at their ends. In the absence of the guidance provided by trichome structure in the normal stigma, they pass indifferently either towards or away from the ovary. The implications of the comparison between the normal and mutant genotypes for understanding the requirements for pollen capture, germination and pollen-tube guidance in the grasses are discussed.     

喀斯特地区莎叶兰的解剖构造及其环境适应性

以广西西北部雅长兰科植物保护区的莎叶兰( Cymbidium cyperifolium)为对象,采用石蜡切片法对莎叶兰叶片和根的解剖构造及其对喀斯特环境的适应性进行了研究。结果表明：(1)莎叶兰叶片的上表皮覆盖有较厚的角质层,气孔均分布于下表皮,且凸出表皮细胞之上;各表皮性状在叶片不同部位存在显著差异,叶片下部的气孔密度、气孔指数和气孔长度最大,表皮细胞密度以叶片上部的最大;叶片属于等面叶,叶肉无栅栏组织和海绵组织的分化;叶脉为明显的平行脉,且粗细交互分布;(2)莎叶兰根的横切面包括根被、皮层、中柱3部分,其中根被细胞排列紧密,为生活细胞;皮层由薄壁细胞组成;根部维管束属于辐射维管束,14原型。菌根粗壮,稀根毛,共生真菌主要分布于根被及皮层中,菌丝体通过根被薄壁细胞间隙及内、外皮层的通道细胞进行侵染。(3)莎叶兰叶片和根的结构不仅有湿生植物特征,如叶片相对较薄、气孔少且凸出表皮细胞、冠/根比值大等;还有旱生植物的特征,如叶片角质层较厚、机械组织发达、细胞结构紧密、具含晶细胞,肉质根具根被,内、外皮层细胞壁明显增厚等。这些结构是莎叶兰对当地缺水、干湿季明显、分布于林下多石砾土壤的生长环境的一种高度适应性表现。     

Micromorphological and anatomical characteristics of Salvia amplexicaulis Lam., S. jurisicii Košanin and S. ringens Sibth. & Sm. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

In this study, we examined Salvia amplexicaulis Lam., S. jurisicii Ko?anin and S. ringens Sibth. & Sm. collected in the Republic of North Macedonia, which are for the first time subjected to detailed micromorphological and structural analysis using light and scanning electron microscopy. The nutlets and mucilage were additionally subjected to spectroscopic analysis using Raman and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The anatomical structure of stems and leaves is described and compared. The stems, leaves and calyces bear numerous one- and multi-cellular nonglandular trichomes, and various peltate, capitate and digitiform glandular trichomes. The nutlets differ in size and shape, as well as in myxocarpy. The nutlets predominantly contained α-linolenic and linoleic acid, whereas the mucilages are primarily formed of polysaccharides. The results obtained in this study confirmed the importance of micromorphological and anatomical analysis of Salvia L. spp. plant parts, particularly trichomes and nutlets, and hence contributing to the knowledge about the variety of micromorphological characteristics within the genus Salvia L.     

Comparative anatomical and micromorphological studies on Teucrium creticum and Teucrium orientale var. orientale (T. sect. Teucrium, Lamiaceae)

Teucrium creticum L. and T. orientale L. var. orientale are two related taxa in Teucrium sect. Teucrium . In this study, the value of anatomical and micromorphological characters for distinguishing between these two taxa is analysed. Transverse sections of the stem, as well as both transverse and surface sections of the leaves were examined anatomically. According to the data obtained, collenchyma and sclerenchyma do grow more in T. creticum than in T. orientale var. orientale . The leaves of T. creticum are hypostomatic and have a characteristic hypodermis, which is under the upper epidermis, as well as abundant spherocrystals in the upper epidermis. The leaves of T. orientale var. orientale are amphistomatic, yet no spherocristals exists in epidermal cells and the hypodermis is absent. The results obtained from studies carried out under scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows that the nutlet micromorphology varies between the two taxa. In both taxa, the nutlet surfaces are reticulate and glandular. Eglandular hairs do occur. However, in T. orientale var. orientale , 20–60 μm long eglandular hairs with scabrid surface occur only along the margins of the nutlets, whereas the ¾ dorsal sides of the nutlets in T. creticum are all covered with 90–500 μm long, smooth-surfaced hairs. Additionally, while the glandular hairs on the nutlets of T. creticum are subsessile, those on the nutlets of T. orientale var. orientale are capitate and distinctly stalked.     

Trigonotis jiaochengensis sp. nov. (Boraginaceae) from Shanxi,China

Trigonotis jiaochengensis Q. R. Liu & R. Y. Yan, a new species from Shanxi, China, is described and illustrated here. It is similar to T. peduncularis in having multiple diffuse stems, ovate to elliptic leaf blades, scorpioid cyme with only basal bracts and trigonous‐tetrahedral nutlets, but differs in having slender pedicels that are 5.2–18.4 mm long (vs clavate pedicels 1.5–4.8 mm in T. peduncularis), smooth nutlets with a short carpophore and a flat bottom (vs verrucose nutlets with a long carpophore and convex bottom in T. peduncularis). Morphological characters, including pollen and nutlets, with illustrations, diagnostic comparisons and habitat, are presented.     

Nutlet sculpturing inScutellaria sect.Resinosa (Lamiaceae) and its taxonomic utility

Nutlet sculpturing of 22 taxa ofScutellaria sect.Resinosa, representing 18 of its 19 species, and the monotypic genusSalazaria was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nutlets of sect.Resinosa, while remarkably variable among themselves, differed from hypothetically closely related sections in lacking circumferential banding and sessile glands. Species could be grouped by surface sculpturing into seemingly meaningful phenetic clusters.Scutellaria potosina var.platyphylla was sufficiently distinct micromorphically so as to be elevated to specific status asScutellaria platyphylla comb. and stat. nov. The significance of nutlet microcharacters within sect.Resinosa is discussed, especially as compared to closely related sections. The genusSalazaria had nutlet sculpturing quite different from all taxa belonging to sect.Resinosa.     

Plant cells which aid in pollen digestion within a beetle's gut

Summary The peach palm, Bactris gasipaes H.B.K., in Costa Rica, possesses unusual trichomes on the inflorescence epidermal surface. Certain cells of the trichome possess a thick, highly lignified cell wall and are consumed by the beetle Cyclocephala amazona L. before it ingests pollen from the same inflorescence. Chemical analyses show the trichome to possess no nutritive value. The thick-walled trichome cells pass intact through the beetle's digestive system, while ingested pollen is crushed. We suggest that the specialized plant cells function as gastroliths in the beetle's digestive tract.     

THE FOLIAR EPIDERMIS IN TILLANDSIOIDEAE (BROMELIACEAE) AND ITS ROLE IN HABITAT SELECTION

Structural features of the foliar epidermal surfaces of selected epiphytic members of subfamily Tillandsioideae of Bromeliaceae were examined to determine why xeromorphic nonimpounding (atmospheric) species with a dense layer of foliar trichomes are seldom found in deeply shaded humid portions of the forest profile, whereas tank-forming members of the same subfamily often abound in such sites. Two features of the peltate trichome which appear to play a major role in enforcing habitat preferences among members of Tillandsioideae are (1) anatomical features of the walls of certain trichome cells which affect the mobility of the shield and. (2) variations in juxtaposition of trichomes and stomates on the leaf surface. Both features are involved in inhibition of gas exchange in wet leaves; trichome shield flexibility is also associated with high leaf reflectivity when the leaf surface is dry.     

中华白花丹参与其近缘种的形态分类鉴定

该研究采用光学显微镜和扫描电镜相结合的方法,对中华白花丹参(Salvia sinealba)与其近缘种丹参(S.miltiorrhiza)及山东丹参(S.shandongensis)根的解剖学、叶表皮、花及花粉粒进行了系统地比较研究。结果表明:中华白花丹参(S.sinealba)根的中央部位有多数薄壁细胞,在根横切面射线薄壁细胞间及韧皮部外侧与次生皮层部位有多数裂隙;叶片上表皮细胞外平周壁具有细密平行丝状褶皱(SEM);花冠白色;花粉粒椭圆形,外壁具网状雕纹,网眼较大,多角形,少为单穿孔。上述这些显著的特征,不仅为中华白花丹参在植物分类学上的地位提供了形态解剖学依据,而且为近缘种丹参及山东丹参的分类鉴定提供了佐证,同时也为中华白花丹参这一特有新资源的保护和开发利用提供了资料。