We examined 15 species of the genus Ligusticum (Apiaceae) from China using LM (light microscopy) and SEM (scanning electron microscopy). Different species have irregular and polygonal epidermal cells and four different stomatal types. Almost all species have different types of stomata on the same leaf surface. Ridges and striations on the cuticular membrane are common features in Ligusticum, and special striation papillae are found in three species. Regarding its epidermal characters, Ligusticum is not supported as a natural genus. Tilingia is suggested as being restored from Ligusticum. The monophyly of Ligusticopsis is not supported and it cannot be segregated from Ligusticum by epidermal characters. We confirm a very close relationship between Ligusticum and Conioselinum and discuss some of the valuable taxonomic characters of Ligusticum.
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1 August 2010
Epidermal Morphology of Ligusticum (Apiaceae) from China
Na Sun,
Xing-Jin He,
Song-Dong Zhou
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Annales Botanici Fennici
Vol. 47 • No. 4
August 2010
Vol. 47 • No. 4
August 2010
leaf epidermis
light microscopy
morphology
scanning electron microscopy
taxonomy