Leaflets anatomy of species which belong to astragalus section anthylloidei (fabaceae) in turkey

In this study, anatomical features of the leaflets, rachis and petioles of species which belongs to genus Astragalus section Anthylloidei in Turkey; Astragalus tortuosus DC., A. szowitsii Fisch. & Mey., A. ermineus Matthews, A. surugensis Boiss. & Hausskn., A. zederbaueri Stadlmann, A. anthylloides Lam., A. halicacabus Lam., A. chardinii Boiss. and A. wagneri Bunge. as been examined. Between 2011 and 2014, plant samples were collected from their localities in flowering periods and cross sections were painted with Sartur reagent and their photographs were taken under light microscope. As a result of the examination of the transverse and superficial sections of the leaf, in terms of anatomical features, spiny and non-spiny species were similar and significant differences between them were found to be stoma numbers. It was shown that the density of the hair, the number of vascular bundles, the size and thickness of the sclerenchyma layer vary according to the species. In addition, no differences were found between species by comparison of cross sections taken from petioles. In the Anthylloidei section, it is determined that the anatomical features of rachis of species has a taxonomic value.