Comparative morphology, palynology and anatomy of five astraceous species from Pakistan

Abstract

In this study, Scorzonera L. (Asteraceae) collected from Pakistan was investigated by its morphology, leaf epidermal 
anatomy and pollen grain characteristics. Scorzonera is a perennial herb growing in wet nutrient-poor grasslands and 
wet heathlands. The stem texture is glabrous in Scorzonera ammophila, Scorzonera picridioides and Scorzonera 
virgata while tomentose in Scorzonera hondae and terete with fine striate above in Scorzonera laciniata. The bifacial 
leaves had anomotetracytic, amphianisocytic, brachyparacytic and staurocytic stomata. The pollen morphology 
results indicate that pollen grains in Scorzonera were lophate. Based on sculpturing, all pollens were echinate in 
Scorzonera. The pollen class was trizonocolporate in all taxa.