Fruit micromorphology of Siberian Apiaceae and its value for taxonomy of the family

Abstract

Using a scanning electron microscope, the fruit micromorphology of the family Apiaceae of Siberia was studied. In total, the study covered 97 species of wild, adventive, and the most important cultivated plants. Within one fruit, micromorphology is heterogeneous; the most informative is the surface of the grooves and the rib bases. Exocarp cells are described (relative position, shape, size, nature of the boundaries between cells, outer walls, and fine relief of the cell wall). Characters most consistent within the species, for example, outgrowths on cell surface and a thin relief of cell wall, are noted. The characteristics of the ridges of the ribs, stomata (their presence, position on the surface of the fruit, and cuticle on the cells adjacent to the stomata), and epicuticular wax are also given. 25 species have hairs, scales, spines or warts on the surface; the shape of these structures and their fine relief are described. The importance of micromorphology for species identification and taxonomy is shown. The wide distribution of parallel variability in the family is noted.