Comparative leaf anatomy of three food plants that are used medically; Mespilus germanica L., Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. subsp. orientalis and Cydonia oblonga Mill. (Rosaceae)

Abstract

Anatomy of leaf cross sections were carried out on the three food plants that are used medically in the family Rosaceae; Mespilus germanica L. (Musmula), Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. (Elma) and Cydonia oblonga Mill. (Ayva) Anatomical features of the leaves were good taxonomic markers, especially concerning their palisade cells, cuticle, vascular bundles, crystals, stomatal index, and stomata structure. The bifacial blade has a heterogeneous and hipostomatic mesophyll and possesses a fascicular vascular system. Non-glandular trichomcs arc present in the lower epidermis. Paradermal sections of the lower epidermis disclose epidermal cells with undulate walls and anomocytic stomata type for C. oblonga and M. sylvestris, but actinocytic stomata type for M. germanica. It was calculated that the stomatal index ranges 16.08 mu m-22.54 mu m. This is the first study of leaf anatomy on the species.