An Accurate Phenotypic Study of The Foliar Epidermis for Some Species of Silene L. From Caryophyllaceae Family in Iraq

Abstract

In the present research work, detailed micromorphological features study (investigated for foliar epidermal anatomy) for five species of the genus Silene L., belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. One of the essential anatomical characteristics of the leaf in this genus observed two basic stomata types on both adaxial and abaxial epidermis, diacytic and anisocytic, from five species, three species have distinguished a diacytic type, exception two species S. chlorifolia and S. longipetala appeared to have both a diacytic and anisocytic, also has astrocytic crystals within epidermal cells. Also in the present work, 3 species out of 5 have trichomes on their both surfaces, observed having them multicellular uniseriate. All the taxa were the distinguished shape of the guard cells as reniform-like from a full short reniform in all species. So the general shape of ordinary epidermal cells, anticlinal wall of the epidermal cells, type of stomata cells, collar shape marginal of guard cells, and trichomes. Images enhanced the micromorphological characteristics under study. Information on the locations and dates of the collection was also confirmed. This study revealed that the micromorphological features of the family are taxonomically signi?cant in the accurate identi?cation of species.