The morphological and anatomical characters of the spermoderm of 49 native and foreign taxa in Wettstein's tribe Solaneae were investigated for their delimitation as well as for a speculation of their phylogenetic status. The observations culminated into the suggestion of an identificatory key. Taxonomic changes including transference (re-allocation) and addition were done for some taxa. Nomenclatural amendments for some other taxa were suggested and a new species, Atropa lutea, has been reached at. The phylogenetic status of the studied taxa was speculated relying on the number of the spermoderm layers. Multi-layered spermoderm was considered less advanced than the few-layered one.

The achene in 17 species of the sub-family Ranunculoideae (Ranunculaceae) was morphologically and anatomically studied to show the variation patterns of these two parameters. The surface of the achene and the appearance of the style whether normal and plumose or in the form of a beak were found to be delimitrate to the taxa studied. SEM investigation of the pericarp showed that six types of surface sculpture were recorded and the reticulate type was subdivided into six sub-types. Stress was laid upon the achene vasculature for suggesting a phylogenetic status for the studied taxa. It was concluded that less advanced taxa are those having increased number of vascular bundles (8-12 bundles). Intermediate taxa are those with three vascular bundles; one dorsal and two distinct ventral bundles. More advanced taxa are those with one dorsal and two fused ventral bundles.

No abstract

anatomical characters of spermoderm of certain species of Resedaceae and their contribution to the taxonomy of the family. Taeckholmia 22(2):155-176. The morphological and anatomical characters of the spermoderm of 27 species of Resedaceae were examined and described to assess the applicability of these attributes in the process of identification. Many of the recorded morphological and anatomical attributes were found to be fairly diagnostic at both the generic and specific levels. Unlike earlier claims that Reseda alba and R. decursiva are conspecific; the present data justify their treatment as distinct species. A correlation was found between some of the studied characters.

The anatomy of salt excretory structures was studied in 22 dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous halophytic species; 13 of which were not previously investigated. The material was selected to represent obligate and facultative, and succulent and non-succulent halophytes. Structural variations led to their renaming and classification. For more precise naming it was believed that one should differentiate between 'glands' that have no ontogenic relation to the epidermis and the epidermal appendages, and convinced by this, the excretory structures were classified into three types and two sub-types. It was also concluded that the presence of such structures in facultative halophytes, where the concerned stress factor (salinity) is absent, makes it a hereditary character resulting in an adaptive capacity for salt tolerance. Ectodesmata were recorded in the outer periclinal walls of the epidermal cells in some species and were considered to be another mechanism for salt excretion.