An anatomic study on selected endemic Centaurea L. (Asteraceae) species from Turkey

In the present study, seven endemic Centaurea L. (Asteraceae) species collected from different area of Turkey in 2005 and 2008 were investigated in terms of stem and leaves anatomy. Firstly some of the collected specimens were identified according to the traditional methods and stored as herbarium specimens; some of the specimens were stored in ethyl alcohol for the anatomical examination. The sections taken from both stem and leaf by using razor blade and/or microtome were stained with special methods and observed by light microscope (LM) in order to determine the anatomical properties of the examined taxa.Although the general anatomical properties of the examined taxa are similar, there are some important differences among the examined taxa listed in the following. There is a distinct chlorenchyma tissue below the stem epidermis in the C. appendicigera and C. kilaea. A cluster of sclerenchymatic cells together with several big intercellular spaces in the stem of C. armena. Similarly, there are a distinct cambium tissue with 2-3 layer in the leaves of C. kilaea and C. hedgei. Lastly, all the leaves of the examined taxa are amphistomatic except for C. helenioides and C. hedgei is bifacial except for the rest of the examined taxa.