Pharmaceutical botanical investigations on the genus Origanum l. (Labiatae) growing in Turkey

There are 43 natural species (62 taxa) in the genus Origanum L. belongs to Labiatae family in the world. In Turkey, the number of species are reached to 22 (30 taxa) with addition of the new taxa. These plants known as oregano in Turkey and some of then are used as folk remedies and spice. In this study, aerial parts of Origanum specimens, which are collected from nature and made into herbarium material are grinded, and the preparations are examined under a light microscope. The structures that can be used as distinguishing characters between species such as covering hairs, glandular hairs, epidermis, stomata, parenchymatic cells, sclerenchyma and polen are observed, their shapes are drawn with the help of drawing tube and their photos are taken. At the end of this study, microscopic characteristics of Origanum taxa grown in Turkey are established and the taxa are grouped and given as tables according to their microscopic characteristics.