Anatomical and pollen characters in the Genus epilobium L. (Onagraceae) from Northeast Anatolia

Abstract

Anatomical and palynological features of E. algidum Bieb., E. palustre L., E. ponticum Hausskn., E. confusum Hausskn., E. hirsutum L. and E. montanum L. collected from NE Anatolia were examined and evaluated by numerical analysis in order to determine the taxonomic value of the observed internal peculiarities. Features related to pollen shape and ornamentation, idioblast distribution, number of palisade parenchyma rows and the presence and distribution of sclerenchyma fibers were found to be important in separating the examined taxa. Principal component analysis showed that the anatomical characters are more important than the palynological ones in explaining the total variation among the examined taxa. © Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow 2008.