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Comparative leaf anatomy of Stachys (Lamiaceae: Lamioideae) in Iran with a discussion on its subgeneric classification

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Abstract

Stachys (Lamiaceae: Lamioideae) is a species-rich, widespread, and taxonomically complex genus. A comparative anatomical study of the petioles and leaf lamina of 34 Stachys taxa representing 12 sections of the genus distributed in Iran was carried out to evaluate interspecific relationships and anatomical features that may be useful in species identification and subgeneric classification. The general leaf anatomy of Stachys species presented here corroborates earlier studies in Lamiaceae and on a few studied species in the genus. Leaf anatomy provides valuable characters that are useful in subgeneric classification as well as species discrimination in Stachys. The most important diagnostic characters are as follows: the shape of transverse section, length of ventral and dorsiventral axis, number of median bundles in the petiole, number of cell layers of palisade and spongy parenchyma, type and thickness of collenchyma as well as trichome type. Based on the present study and in accordance with previous works, some large sections such as Ambleia, Aucheriana, and Fragilicaulis appear to be natural and need minor or no changes in delimitation, while circumscription of sect. Olisia should be revised. Isolated positions of some monotypic or oligotypic sections, such as Pontostachys, Thamnostachys, and Trinerves, as well as Zietenia, are supported by unique leaf anatomical features.

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Notes

  1. The remaining taxa have sessile leaves and lack any petiole.

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Acknowledgments

Critical notes from anonymous referees had considerable impact in improving the manuscript, especially the “Discussion.” The first author is indebted to Dr. Z. Jamzad (Tehran, TARI) for her encouraging ideas and support. Dr. T.V. Krestovskaya (St. Petersburg) provided several important references for this study and was very helpful to the first author in various ways, for which we are grateful. We are also grateful to R. Abbas Azimi (Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran) for her technical help. Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, Deutsher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) as well as the Research Council, University of Tehran provided financial support for our project on Lamiaceae. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands (Tehran, TARI) supports this project in various ways, which is much appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, PO Box:14155-6455, Tehran, Iran

    Yasaman Salmaki & Shahin Zarre

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA

    Charlotte Lindqvist

  3. LMU München, Department Biology I, Biodiversity Research-Systematic Botany, Laboratory Prof. Dr. G. Heubl, Menzinger Str. 67, 80638, München, Germany

    Günther Heubl & Christian Bräuchler

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  1. Yasaman Salmaki
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  2. Shahin Zarre
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  3. Charlotte Lindqvist
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  4. Günther Heubl
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  5. Christian Bräuchler
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Correspondence to Shahin Zarre.

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Salmaki, Y., Zarre, S., Lindqvist, C. et al. Comparative leaf anatomy of Stachys (Lamiaceae: Lamioideae) in Iran with a discussion on its subgeneric classification. Plant Syst Evol 294, 109–125 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-011-0450-2

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