Comparative anatomy and achene micromorphology assessment of two Cousinia Cass. (Asteraceae) species in view of taxonomy

Comparative anatomy and achene micromorphology assessment of two Cousinia Cass. (Asteraceae) 
 species in view taxonomy
 Deniz ULUKUŞ 1, Osman TUGAY 2
 ORCID: 0000-0002-9627-5492; 0000-0003-3980-7648
 1 Department Biotechnology, Faculty Sciences, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
 2 Pharmaceutical Botany, Pharmacy, Turkey Abstract
 is a member the monophyletic tribe Cardueae, which traditionally subdivided into four taxonomic groups; however, rank boundaries these taxa are highly controversial. The purpose this study was to contribute genus taxonomy by determining comparative anatomical micromorphological features C. aintabensis Boiss. & Hausskn. birecikensis Hub.-Mor. that morphologically similar each other. In studies, stem, leaf, midrib were determined. Paraffin embedding, microtome sectioning, safranin-fast green staining used for samples. obtained sections photographed, characters measured. importance between determined applying Independent sample T-test test quantitative characters. addition, box plot heatmap analyses studied carried out. Our results showed stem epidermis, inner sclerenchyma phloem layer; For leaves; lower upper epidermis mesophyll thickness, palisade parenchyma; midrib; number vascular bundles, collenchyma, important can be differentiation species. SEM microscope examinations. surface ornamentation identified as striate-retipylate. It observed had striate irregular reticulate-faveolate ornamentation.
 Keywords: Asteraceae, Anatomy, Cousinia, micromorphology, Türkiye