The Anatomical Structure of Leaves and Thorns Plants <i>Astragalus pterocephalus</i> Bunge, Growing in Uzbekistan

Abstract

The results of a study conducted by light microscopy of the anatomical structure of the leaf and thorns of Astragalus pterocephalus growing in the natural habitat of the Amankutan Mountains of the Samarkand region (Uzbekistan) are presented. The following diagnostic features were identified: leaf—isolateral-palisade type of mesophyll leaf; thick-walled outer walls of the epidermis; the outline of epidermal cells is rectilinear, the projection is polygonal; amphystomatic leaves; submerged numerous stomata of hemiparacitic and anomocytic type; chlorophyll-bearing palisade and spongy parenchyma; closed collateral type of vascular bundles and more sclerified, due to sclerenchymal cells. Thorn—parenchymal-beam type of structure; thin-walled outer walls of the epidermis; under the epidermis is a lamellar collenchyma; closed collateral type of vascular bundles and more sclerified, due to sclerenchymal cells. The complex of the above features reflects the species specificity of the structure of the leaf and spines. Identified and described features that can be used in the taxonomy of the studied tribes and can serve to identify plant materials.