Anatomical and palynological characteristics of Salvia willeana (Holmboe) Hedge and Salvia veneris Hedge endemic to Cyprus

Abstract

In this study, anatomical and palynological features of the roots, stems, petiole and leaves of Salvia willeana (Holmboe) Hedge and Salvia veneris Hedge, Salvia species endemic to Cyprus, were investigated. In the anatomical characteristics of stem structures, it was found that the chlorenchyma composed of 6 or 7 rows of cells which was beneath the epidermis of S. veneris, whereas S. willeana did not have such a tissue. While the transverse section of the leaf of S. veneris had either a single large vascular bundle or a two-lobe vascular bundle in the midrib, there was only a single large vascular bundle in that of S. willeana. While there were 2-or-3-piece vascular bundles in the center and threepiece vascular bundles at the corners of the petiole of S. veneris, there was a single large vascular bundle in the center and two vascular bundles at the corners of the petiole of S. willeana. It was determined that pollens belonging to both taxa had hexazonocolpate, subprolate, semitectate structure and showed bireticulate ornamentation. However, the number of lumina in the secondary reticulum of S. willeana was fewer than ten while it was more than ten in S. veneris.