Histo-Anatomical Studies in &lt;i&gt;Allium saxatile&lt;/i&gt;, a Specie with Ornamental Potential

Lucia Draghia,Lăcrămioara Ivănescu,Nicoleta Luminița Paraschiv,Elena-Liliana Chelariu,Monica Boscaiu

doi:10.15835/nbha4129005

Abstract

The current paper presents some characteristics of the anatomy of vegetative organs (adventive root and leaf) of Allium saxatile M. Bieb., a species rare in the Romanian flora, which have not been described before in the literature. Histo-anatomical studies performed on Allium saxatile plants sampled from three local populations identified in the Dobrogea area, complete already existing data from other species of this genus, and represent the beginning of future studies on ecological anatomy, taxonomy and ex situ conservation strategies. Some of the obtained results confirm data from literature, but additional observations have been made that show features not reported previously for any specie of the Allium genus, such as the presence of colenchymatized cells in the internal mesophyll at the lamina level; or the presence, at sheath level, of epidermal cells with uniformly lignified and thick walls.

Highlights

The taxonomic position of Allium and its related genera has been a controversial topic
In the past the genus was included in the family Alliaceae, but molecular systematics has led to some significant changes regarding its taxonomic position
In the first “Angiosperm Phylogeny Group” classification (APG, 1998) the genus was placed in a distinctive family, Alliaceae, which later in the third system of classification elaborated by the prestigious group (APG, 2009) was reconsidered as a subfamily, Alliodeae, within the family Amaryllidaceae

Summary

Introduction

The taxonomic position of Allium and its related genera has been a controversial topic. In the first “Angiosperm Phylogeny Group” classification (APG, 1998) the genus was placed in a distinctive family, Alliaceae, which later in the third system of classification elaborated by the prestigious group (APG, 2009) was reconsidered as a subfamily, Alliodeae, within the family Amaryllidaceae. This latter system of classification has been broadly accepted in recent taxonomic and phylogenetic studies (Chase et al, 2009). Subgenera Rhizirideum, Butomissa, Cyathophora, Cepa, Polyprason, Allium s.str., Reticulatobulbosa s.

Methods

Results

Conclusion