بررسي ريزريخت شناسي جنس Ziziphora L. (Lamiaceae) در ايران

Micromorphological study of Ziziphora L. (Lamiaceae) in Iran

Ziziphora L. is comprises of four species, Z. tenuior, Z. persica, Z. capitata and nine infra - species in Z. clinopodioides in Iran. Due to the high morphological similarities between some species as Z. persica and Z. tenuior, in this project micro-morphological features of pollen grains and mericarp surface were used to find efficient diagnostic features. Studies were done by use of light microscope and for a better definition between species and exine sculpture patterns; Scanning Microscope (SEM) was used. Most diagnostic characters were apocolpium length, Apocolpium Index (Al), length of equatorial axis and average diameter of lumens related to bi-reticulate sculpture of pollen grains surface, in studied species separation. Mericarp length and basal condition were of diagnostic importance too. Three studied subspecies of Z. clinopodioides show a close relationship. Results of present study revealed that micro-morphological features of pollen grains and mericarp surface in Ziziphora are of taxonomic value and could be used to define the species relationships and delimitations.