Anatomic studies on Echium species L. (Boraginaceae)

In this study, Echium L. genus E. orientale (akşamşavkı) L., E. glomeratum (gül sığırdili) Poir., E. italicum (kurtkuyruğu) L., E. vulgare L. subsp. vulgare (engerek otu), E. plantagineum (kırkbatıran) L., E. angustifolium (agres) Miller, E. parviflorum Moench. ve J.F. Gmelin, Pontechium maculatum (L.) U.- R. Böhle et Hilger (syn: E. russicum) (kızıl engerek otu) species of the Echium genus belongs to Boraginaceae family have been examined anatomically and micromorphologically. Plant materials used in this study were collected between June 2013 and July 2014 from different localities of Aegean, Marmara, Black Sea and Mediterranean regions by us. The collected plant samples were conserved as herbarium and fixation materials. Flora of Turkey, Flora of Russia and The East Eagean Islands, Resimli Türkiye Florası were used for the determination of the species of the genus Echium. Cross sections have been taken from the stems and leaves of the Echium genus plant species by hand and microtome. Permanent materials were prepared and minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation values of the sizes of the cells were calculated. With all of these studies, differences and similarities between species have been determined. In anatomical studies that were done in this research, it was found out that stem, cortex, leaf palisade paranchima, stoma and hair features can be used to distinguish Echium species and Pontechium maculatum species.