Anatomical and morphological studies on two endemic species from Turkey: Centaurea dichroa Boiss. & Heldr and Centaurea wagenitzii Hub.-Mor

Abstract

Centaurea dichroa Boiss. & Heldr and C. wagenitzii Hub.-Mor. are endemic species for Turkey. Morphological and anatomical properties of these speices were investigated comparatively. Both species are perennial and woody rootstock. According to our results flowered stem lenght was found higher than the size reported by Wagenitz in the Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands and width of basal leaves was smaller. Altough these species are in distinct sections, yellow corolla and purple anther tubes are similar. Anatomic structures of stems and leaves of species are similar to each other and the outer tangential walls of the epidermis cells are over thickened. Vascular tissues are placed into sclerancymatic tissues in the stems. The leaves are amphistomatic and isolateral in both species.