Taxonomic significance of foliar epidermal morphology in Lamiaceae from Pakistan

Abstract

Foliar micromorphological features are useful to elucidate the taxonomy and systematics of the Lamiaceae species. Leaf epidermal morphology using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy of 22 Lamiaceae species from 15 genera have been investigated with an aim to solve its taxonomic problem in the correct identification. Various foliar micromorphological features were observed to explain their importance in resolving the correct identification of Lamiaceae taxa. Two main types of trichomes were observed; glandular trichomes (GTs) and nonglandular trichomes (NGTs). GTs were further divided into seven subtypes including the capitate, subsessile capitate, sessile capitate, sunken, barrel, peltate, and clavate. Similarly, NGTs were also divided into simple unicellular and multicellular including conical, falcate, cylindrical, dendrite, papillose, and short hook shape. Quantitative measurement includes the length and width of the trichomes, stomatal complex, epidermal cells, stomata, and trichomes index. Based on the foliar micromorphological characters, a taxonomic key was developed to delimit and correctly identify studied taxa. Further molecular, other anatomical and phylogenetic studies are recommended to strengthen the systematics of Lamiaceae.

Taxonomic study of one generic and two new species record to the flora of Pakistan using multiple microscopic techniques

“…Foliar epidermal traits of the Ajuga bracteosa and Ajuga parviflora in Pakistan were found significant in the correct identification and delimitation of the related species (Gul et al, ). Foliar epidermal features were found useful to elucidate the systematics of the Lamiaceae species (Gul et al, ). Epidermal cell length was noted as 95 (113.5 ± 5.94) 127.5 and trichomes index 2.41 (Table ).…”

Foliar epidermal anatomy of some selected wild edible fruits of Pakistan using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy

“…The microscopic features of leaves magnified by using SEM, are useful to study micromorphological structures of the leaf epidermis, such as epidermal cells, stomata, and trichome types (Shah, Ahamd, Zafar, & Zaman, , Shah et al, ). Micromorphological leaf data can result in the identification of traits for a species (Attar, Esfandani‐Bozchaloyi, Mirtadzadini, Ullah, & Zaman, ; Gul et al, , ). Diverse nature of trichomes may help in the correct identification of plants (Ashfaq et al, ; McCauley, Cortés‐Palomec, & Oyama, ).…”

Leaf and stem micromorphology of Byrsonima sericea DC. by light and scanning electron microscopy

“…Micromorphological studies using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques have been used as important tools in systematic and vascular plant taxonomy. The use of multiple microscopic techniques has allowed plant identifications and the resolution of taxonomic problems in different plant groups, including ferns (Shah et al, 2018; Shah, Ahmad, et al, ; Shah, Celik, et al, ) and angiosperms (Attar et al, ; Ullah, Nasar Shah, et al, ; Ullah, Zaman, et al, ; Gul et al, ; ; Kandemir, Çelik, Ullah, Shah, & Zaman, ). Additionally, microscopic techniques have supported the identification of medicinal plants, such as the work by Shaheen et al (2019), who studied cases of adulteration with Senna .…”

“…Leaf anatomical studies can be important tools for the quality control of drugs and ethnodrugs, the identification of species, and for the taxonomy of ferns and angiosperms-as was demonstrated by Araújo, Azevedo, Silva, and Meira (2010) for 16 species of Byrsonima from the Brazilian Cerrado, by Porto, Figueiredo, Oliveira, and Agra (2011) and Porto, de Barros, Basílio, and Agra (2016), both for the genus Cissampelos, by Shah et al (2018), Shah, Ahmad, et al (2019), Shah, Celik, et al (2018), who studied the taxonomic importance of leaf epidermis in Pteridaceae, by Attar, Esfandani-Bozchaloyi, Mirtadzadini, Ullah, and Zaman (2019) and by Ullah et al (2018), Ullah, Nasar Shah, et al, 2019, who examined the leaf anatomy and the pollen morphology in species of Cynoglosseae tribe of Boraginaceae, and by Gul et al (2019a;2019b), who undertook anatomic studies in the Lamiaceae family, inter alia.…”

“…Micromorphological studies using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques have been used as important tools in systematic and vascular plant taxonomy. The use of multiple microscopic techniques has allowed plant identifications and the resolution of taxonomic problems in different plant groups, including ferns Shah, Ahmad, et al, 2019;Shah, Celik, et al, 2018) and angiosperms (Attar et al, 2019;Ullah, Nasar Shah, et al, 2019;Gul et al, 2019a;2019b;Kandemir, Çelik, Ullah, Shah, & Zaman, 2019 Considering the importance of B. sericea in folk medicine and as a food source for humans, we undertook a study of its leaf anatomy and histochemistry using LM and SEM to determine differential parameters that could support quality control of its ethnodrugs and separate B. sericea from other species of the genus.…”