Anatomical investigation of four taxa of Scutellaria albida L. (Lamiaceae)

Canan Özdemir,Ersin Minareci,Mehmet Çiçek,Okan Kocabaş,Sinem Pekönür

doi:10.3329/bjpt.v26i1.41921

Abstract

The root, trunk and leaf anatomy of four taxa of Scutellaria albida namely, S. albida subsp. albida, S. albida subsp. velenovskyi, S. albida subsp. colchica and S. albida subsp. condensata were examined. The aim is to determine whether these characters can be used for systematic purposes. The roots displays a typical stele structure in all studied taxa. But their number of pith rays are different in each taxa. The stems of S. albida taxa have square like transection, collateral vascular bundles, parenchymatous pith and show 1-2 layered epidermis coated with thick cuticle. S. albida subsp. condensata has papillate epicuticular wax on its stem cuticle layer. In all taxa angular collenchyma, and cambium forming phloem outward and xylem inward are observed. The leaves are hypostomatic, have single rowed epidermis coated with thick cuticle and show dorsiventral mesophyll in all studied taxa. S. albida subsp. velenovskyi has echinate epicuticular wax on its leaf cuticle layer, but the others have smooth cuticle layer. The midrib shows one collateral bundles in all taxa but the shape of median veins of the leaf blade show variation in each taxa. Some of the anatomical characters viz. the number of pith rays of roots, the number of palisade parenchyma layer, plant cuticles covered by wax, the shape of median veins of the leaf blade and stomata index, provide information of taxonomical significance for these taxa.

Highlights

Scutellaria L., a member of the Lamiaceae family, has approximately 300 species and this genus prefers living in temperate climates (Paton, 1990a)
Pericycle located adjacent to the endodermis is sporadically divided with supporting tissue members in S. albida subsp. condensata
The root of S. albida subsp. velenovskyi has irregular layered sclerenchymatical cells scattered throughout the cortex (Fig. 1B)

Summary

Introduction

Scutellaria L. (skullcap), a member of the Lamiaceae family, has approximately 300 species and this genus prefers living in temperate climates (Paton, 1990a). (skullcap), a member of the Lamiaceae family, has approximately 300 species and this genus prefers living in temperate climates (Paton, 1990a). Scutellaria is viable plant for every continent except for Antarctica with its main centre of diversity in Irano-Turanianregion of Asia. Eastern Mediterranean and the Andes are secondary center of the diversity (Paton, 1990b, Bruno et al, 2002). Turkey is accepted as the gene center of Lamiaceae family to which the Scutellaria genus belongs (Başer, 1993). Scutellaria is represented by twenty-four species, thirteen subspecies and one hybrid in the flora of Turkey. Thirteen (%41) of them are endemic to Turkey (Çiçek, 2008)

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