Mericarp micromorphology and anatomy of Salvia hedgeana Dönmez, S. huberi Hedge and S. rosifolia Sm. (section Salvia Hedge, Lamiaceae)

Abstract

Mericarp micromorphology and anatomy ofSalvia hedgeanaDönmez,S. huberiHedge andS. rosifoliaSm. (sectionSalviaHedge, Lamiaceae)Mericarp (nutlet) micromorphology and pericarp structure of three morphologically similar endemicSalviaspecies;Salvia hedgeana, S. huberiandS. rosifoliawere investigated using LM, SEM and TEM.Salvia hedgeanahas larger mericarps and abscission scars thanS. huberiandS. rosifolia. Mericarp length to width ratio ranges from 1.11 inS. hedgeanato 1.60 inS. huberi. Mericarp shape is mainly ovoid, rarely broadly ovoid inS. hedgeana, and oblong inS. huberi. The mericarp surface sculpturing pattern in all species is colliculate. However, exocarp cells are pentangular-hexangular inS. hedgeana, irregular inS. huberiand rounded and smaller inS. rosifolia. InSalvia huberianticlinal walls are undulate whereas inS. hedgeanaandS. rosifoliaanticlinal walls are straight.Salvia hedgeanawas distinguished from the others by the thickest pericarp (146-185 μm). The sclerenchymatous region significantly varied between the species. It was 84-99 μm inS. hedgeana, 56-82 μm inS. huberiand 27-61 μm inS. rosifolia. The mesocarp was also thicker inS. hedgeana. The wetted mericarps produced mucilage, butS. huberidiffered from the others in having translucent-milky white opaque mucilage with fibres or radiating cordons.