Micromorphological Study of Epidermis and Stomata in Some Stachys L. Species (Lamiaceae) From Iran

Stachys L. is a taxonomically complex and morphologically diverse genus within Lamiaceae, comprising nearly ۳۰۰ species worldwide, including ۳۴ species reported from Iran. Despite its ecological significance and traditional medicinal uses, the micromorphological characteristics of its leaf surfaces, particularly the epidermis and stomata, have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, ۱۵ species of Stachys were analyzed using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to explore their epidermal and stomatal features. Measurements included stomatal length, width, and stomatal index (SI) alongside qualitative assessments of surface ornamentation and stomatal types. The largest stomata were observed in S. pilosa, whereas S. ixodes had the highest SI and S. obtusicrena the lowest. All species exhibited irregular epidermal cell outlines and a combination of anisocytic and diacytic stomatal types. These micromorphological characters, particularly when interpreted in combination with other morphological data, provide informative characters that can aid in the taxonomic identification and classification of Stachys species.

کلیدواژه ها:

Stachys ، Micromorphology ، Leaf Epidermis ، Stomata ، Light Microscopy (LM) ، Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)