Significance Important of Fruit Character for Some Asteraceae Species in Identification and Differentiation Level

Abstract

Achene and pappus macro and micro-morphological characters for 10 species belong to two sub-family of Asteraceae from eastern region of Saudi Arabia to evaluate the application of this character in the identification and differentiation level by using light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The achene morphological characters as, size, shape, color, texture, ridges, base, achene coat and pappus characters are done. The achene coat pattern sculpture recorded 6 types; striate, tuberculate, granulate, sulcate, irregular reticulate and reticulate-rugose, the main types were reticulate. The pappus type's recorded three types; scabrous barbellate bristles, scabrous subulate scales free and capillary barbelllate, the main types were scabrous barbellate bristles found in seven studied species. The result for this study supports the use of achene morphological characters for identification and differentiates of different related species but cannot be used for taxonomical levels for the different tribes.