A comparative anatomical study on genus pulicaria gaertn. (compositae) from Turkey and its taxonomic implication

Abstract

The genus Pulicaria Gaertn. belongs to the tribe Inuleae Cass. and it is represented by six species P. arabica (L.) Cass., P. armena Boiss. & Kotschy ex Boiss., P. dysenterica (L.) Gaertn., P. odora (L.) Rchb., P. sicula (L.) Moris, and P. vulgaris Gaertn. in Turkey. P. armena is endemic to Turkey. A comparative anatomical study on Puliaria species growing in Turkey is presented. Cross-sections of stem, leaves, and surface sections of leaves of all species were taken. Anatomical description of Pulicaria species was given and species were compared. Noteworthy anatomical features were glandular and non-glandular trichome type, mesophyll cells, stomatal index, and stomata structure. Thirteen anatomical characters were quantified, organized in a data matrix, and analyzed with UPGMA methods. It is shown that leaf and stem anatomy data provide characters that are taxonomically useful.