Hatice Nurhan Büyükkartal

Mericarp micromorphology and anatomy of Salvia hedgeana Dönmez, S. huberi Hedge and S. rosifolia Sm. (section Salvia Hedge, Lamiaceae)

Mericarp micromorphology and anatomy of Salvia hedgeana Dönmez, S. huberi Hedge and S. rosifolia Sm. (section Salvia Hedge, Lamiaceae) Mericarp (nutlet) micromorphology and pericarp structure of three morphologically similar endemic Salvia species; Salvia hedgeana, S. huberi and S. rosifolia were investigated using LM, SEM and TEM. Salvia hedgeana has larger mericarps and abscission scars than S. huberi and S. rosifolia. Mericarp length to width ratio ranges from 1.11 in S. hedgeana to 1.60 in S. huberi. Mericarp shape is mainly ovoid, rarely broadly ovoid in S. hedgeana, and oblong in S. huberi. The mericarp surface sculpturing pattern in all species is colliculate. However, exocarp cells are pentangular-hexangular in S. hedgeana, irregular in S. huberi and rounded and smaller in S. rosifolia. In Salvia huberi anticlinal walls are undulate whereas in S. hedgeana and S. rosifolia anticlinal walls are straight. Salvia hedgeana was distinguished from the others by the thickest pericarp (146-185 μm). The sclerenchymatous region significantly varied between the species. It was 84-99 μm in S. hedgeana, 56-82 μm in S. huberi and 27-61 μm in S. rosifolia. The mesocarp was also thicker in S. hedgeana. The wetted mericarps produced mucilage, but S. huberi differed from the others in having translucent-milky white opaque mucilage with fibres or radiating cordons.

Pericarp Ultrastructure of Salvia Section Hemisphace (Mentheae; Nepetoideae; Lamiaceae)

The genus Salvia L. (sage), which belongs to the tribe Mentheae of the subfamily Nepetoideae within the family Lamiaceae, is well-known for its medicinal, ornamental, culinary and hallucinogenic uses. The section Hemisphace Benth. of this genus is respresented in Turkey by three species. The present study is conducted on two morphologically similar Salvia species belonging to this section: Salvia napifolia Jacq. and S. russellii Benth. (excluding S. verticillata L.). For this purpose, the pericarp ultrastructure of these species is investigated in detail with the help of light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Morphometric characters are analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) post-hoc test for multiple comparisons. The taxonomic potential of pericarp characteristics is discussed. The most prominent traits are the thickness of the pericarp, mesocarp and sclerenchyma region that permit the separation of the species studied. Myxocarpy (mucilage formation) is recognized on the surface of the wetted mericarps of both species. Mucilaginous cells reveal a moderate reaction but S. napifolia is of a somewhat thicker mucilaginous layer, about 0.20-0.34 mm. This study represents the first comprehensive findings on the pericarp ultrastructure of the species examined.