Anatomy of Scutellaria albida L. taxa in Turkey

In this study, morphology of glandular and aglandular hair, the root, stem, petiol, leaf anatomy and stomatal index of Scutellaria L. albida taxa (S. albida subsp. albida, S. albida subsp. velenovskyi, S. albida subsp. colchica, and S. albida subsp. condensata) in Turkey is presented. Our goal is to understand the usefulness of these characteristics for systematic purposes. The anatomical characteristics of taxa were compared with each other and the other members of the genus Scutellaria. Scutellaria albida taxa are classified by type of glandular hairs. They have both capitate the peltate glandular hairs. But their structure, places and frequency varies among taxa. The roots display a typical stele structure in all studied taxa. But order of xylem trachea, number of pith rays, place of sklerankimatik cells and thickness of phloem layer are different in each taxa. The stems of S. albida taxa have square like transection, collateral vascular bundles, parenchymatous pith and show 1-2 layered epidermis coated with thick cuticle. In all taxa are observed angular collenchyma, cambium forming phloem outward and xylem inward. In all the studied taxa, some differences were found in the petiole shape, arrangement and number of vascular bundles, and the presence of collenchyma. The leaves are hypostomatic, have single rowed epidermis coated with thick cuticle and show dorsiventral mesophyll in all studied taxa. The midrib shows one collateral bundles in all taxa. Some anatomical characters such as the number of pith rays of roots, the number of palisade parenchyma layer, petiol and leaf cuticle structures, the shape of median veins of petiol and stomatal index provide information of taxonomical significance for these taxa.