Comparative morphological and anatomical studies of some Salvia species (Lamiaceae) from Sulaymaniyah province (Iraq)

The Salvia L. is described as the largest genus in the family of Lamiaceae. Salvia used in the pharmaceutical, medical, industrial, food and cosmetic fields. The aim of study is to comparative the morphological and anatomical features of three species of genus Salvia include Salvia compressa, S.palaestina, and S.spinosa from Suleymaniah province-northern Iraq. Roots are woody and conical wedge except S.compressa which has semi-woody. Stems is square shape. Leaf blade hastate shape in S.palaestina, oval to elongated in S.compressa, and widely ovate to oblong shape in S.spinosa. Inflorescence was verticellaster. Corolla had purple lip-white tube in S.compressa, creamy white in S.spinosa, and lilac or whitish-lilac in S.palaestina. Calyx was bell-shaped in S.compressa and S.palaestinae, and tubular in S.spinosa. Bracts had light green color in S.spinosa and S.compressa, but had purpul or pink color S.palaestina. Cross section prepared from root, stem, leaf, petiole, midrib, and surface section of leaf for anatomical study and examined, Anatomical features of three studied speceis were photographed, and the results were compared with the previous studies performed on the other species of genus Salvia. Epidermal cell is single row, collenchyma in four angles of stems, and diacytic stomata observed in leaf blades of the three studied species. Prismatic crystals only observed in stem and midrib of S.palaestina, and, S.spinosa had most thickened leaf blade.