Search

IN THIS STUDY the morphological and anatomical variation in stem and leaf tissues of three genera of Zygophyllaceae: Fagonia (4 taxa), Tetraena (4 taxa), and Tribulus (4 taxa) were investigated. The twelve examined taxa included nine species that grow in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Additional features for taxon identification and characterization can be developed because of our findings. The anatomical features investigated included, stem diagram, epidermal cell shape, structure of cortex and pith, the number of vascular bundles, petiole and blade outline in cross section, mesophyll type, and distribution of secretory tissues and crystals. The conclusions of this study show that anatomical features, particularly the petiole and blade outlines and the type of vasculature of the stem and petiole, are significant tools in identifying and distinguishing between the species examined and can provide a key for identification of the investigated taxa. Distinction of the investigated Zygophyllaceae species, based on the characters assessed in this study, agreed with previous classifications of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This present study includes twelve species that represent the Ficus genus, namely; aspera, carica, tinctoria subsp. gibbosa, hirta, hispida, neriifolia, palmata, pumila, racemosa, septica, sur, and sycomorus, belonging to the Moraceae family. The species samples were collected from various locations in Egypt. The study focused on the anatomical and molecular characteristics of mature foliage leaves. Since the identification and classification of taxa are highly dependent on the anatomical features of leaves, the anatomical characteristics were recorded in the form of a comparison between the examined plants in the data matrix. This study aims to contribute to the identification of the studied species based on the anatomical details of the matured leaves. Anatomical characterization includes the variations in upper and lower epidermal layers that are covered by a thin or thick cuticle; the number of palisade and spongy layers; crystals; secretory elements; lithocysts; the midrib zone has parenchyma associated with mechanical tissue, vascular system, and investigation of trichomes; on the other hand, in the current study, the phylogenetic analysis was conducted by using the ITS and 5.8 S sequences. From the analysis of all the available data, it could be stated that there is an overall agreement with the anatomical character dendrogram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]