Microstructural Features of Primula woronowii Losinsk., Primula macrocalyx Bunge. and Primula saguramica Gavr. from Georgian Flora

Abstract

Background: The characterization and study of plants begin with the study of morphological and micro-diagnostic signs. It is essential to determine the common and distinguishing features of the species of the genus Primula to facilitate their identification. Objectives: The paper presents the macro-and micromorphological characteristics of three species of the genus Primula L.: P. woronowii Losinsk., P. macrocalyx Bunge, and P. saguramica Gavr. In addition, based on the microstructural and anatomical characteristics, the paper distinguishes between two closely related species: P. macrocalyx Bunge and P. saguramica Gavr. Methods: Microstructural research on experimental samples was carried out using standard laboratory methods adopted in microtechnology. The microtechnical investigation used light microscopes (Carl Zeiss, Jeneval, and Omax). Materials were documented using a digital camera (Canon Digital IXUS 75), and microphotographs were graphically processed in the Adobe Photoshop CS5 program. Results: Based on the data, the following common and distinguishing microstructural features of P. woronowii, P. macrocalyx, and P. saguramica were established: The basal cells of the epidermis of the leaf of the studied species are non-circular, with a curved and curved-walled structure; The ventilation system is simple, a normocytic structure; the leaf is bifacial Dorsoventra luri, amphistomatous (P. woronowii, P. saguramica