Teucrium alyssifolium Stapf (endemic), Teucrium pestalozzae Boiss. (endemic) and Teucrium brevifolium Schreb. are three closely related taxa in Teucrium sect. Teucrium. The obtained data from the anatomical studies revealed that these three taxa represent the general anatomical characteristics of the Lamiaceae family. Leaves, anatomical features such as thick cuticle, abundant trichomes, rich palisade parenchyma layer in the mesophyll provide evidence that these three species are xeromorphic structures. Leaf and stem anatomy showed that the taxa have generally similar anatomical features. However, cuticle layers, epidermis cells size, indumentum density, mesophyll types, palisade parenchyma occupied in the mesophyll, presence of spherocrystals in leaves and parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma layers in stems show differences amongst the taxa. Anatomical characters of leaf and stem of these taxa are examined for the first time in this study.

Lamiaceae , Teucrium, leaf anatomy, stem anatomy

The genus Teucrium L. has approximately 300 species all over the world. Teucrium’s cosmopolitan distribution is mainly concentrated in Europe, North Africa and in the temperate parts of Asia (Ecevit-Genç et al. 2015, 2017). Teucrium is a large and polymorphic genus which is represented by 49 taxa (36 species) in Turkey. There are 18 endemic taxa (Govaerts 1999, Duman 2000, Dönmez 2006, Parolly and Eren 2007, Dönmez et al. 2010, Dinç et al. 2011a, 2011b, Dirmenci 2012, Özcan et al. 2015a, Vural et al. 2015, Dinç and Doğu 2016). The classification of Teucrium is based on sections. The main characters in the separation of sections are the calyx-shape and flower arrangement (Davis 1982; Navarro et al. 2004; Dinç et al. 2008; Özcan et al. 2015a; Vural et al. 2015). Especially, leaf anatomy is important for the classification of the genus (Dinç et al. 2009). Also, absence or presence of trichomes and their types on the nutlets and vegetative parts are very important for classifying the species (Dinç et al. 2011a, Ecevit-Genç et al. 2015, 2017).

Teucrium species have traditionally been used in Turkey for abdominal pain, stomach-ache, common cold, high fever, antipyretic, rheumatic pain and as an antidiabetic (Sezik et al. 2001, Aksoy-Sagirli et al. 2015).

T. alyssifolium is a narrowly distributed endemic species. It is classified as a ‘Conservation Dependent (LR/cd)’ category of IUCN and it is a source of polyphenols and flavonoids and has confirmed antioxidant activities (Semiz et al. 2016). T. pestalozzae is an endemic species and its essential oil is characterised with β-caryophyllene (27.6%) and germacrene D (13.8%) as major constituents (Baser et al. 1997). Spathulenol and δ-cadinene are the main compounds of T. brevifolium essential oil and it has shown anti-tumour activities, a selective cytotoxicity on large lung carcinoma (IC₅₀ value of 80.7 μg/ml) (Menichini et al. 2009).

The chromosome numbers are reported as 2n = 10, 14, 16, 18, 22, 26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 39, 48, 52, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 78, 80, 86, 90, 96 and 104 in the genus Teucrium (http://www.tropicos.org/Project/IPCN). The chromosome number of T. brevifolium examined in this study was determined as 2n = 30. Another member of the sect. Teucrium, T. sandrasicum, was studied and it was determined that the chromosome number is the same as T. brevifolium (Özcan et al. 2015b).

Pollen morphology supplies useful data at the taxonomic level in Teucrium (Navarro et al. 2004, Marzouk et al. 2017). Oybak and İnceoğlu (1988) studied pollen morphology of some Turkish Teucrium members. They found out that the species belonging to different sections had different pollen type and pollen shape, while pollen grain size and apocolpia size were the main characters used for distinguishing the species. Especially, T. alyssifolium could be easily separated from the other species of the sect. Teucrium according to pollen data.

There are several studies on Teucrium anatomy (Lakusic et al. 2006, 2010, Dinç et al. 2008, 2009, 2011a, 2011b, Dehshiri and Azadbakht 2012, Dinç and Doğu 2012, Doğu et al. 2013, Özcan 2013, Özcan and Eminagaoglu 2014, Ruiters et al. 2016). However, the anatomy of T. pestalozzae, T. brevifolium and T. alyssifolium has not been investigated. In our previous studies, we investigated the nutlet and leaf micromorphology of some species belonging to the sect. Teucrium in Turkey (Ecevit-Genç et al. 2015, 2017). In the present study, we report on the anatomical features of the leaves and stems of T. alyssifolium, T. brevifolium and T. pestalozzae. The aim of this paper is to understand the anatomy of these three Teucrium species. Also, a better understanding of systematics helps the distinction of morphologically closely related taxa from each other.

T. pestalozzae samples were collected from Antalya, T. brevifolium and T. alyssifolium samples were collected from Muğla provinces in Turkey (Figures 1, 3, 5). Voucher specimens are stored in the Herbarium of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University (ISTE). Data about habitats of each investigated species are given in Table 1. Permanent microscopic preparations were made of plant materials fixed in 70% alcohol during the field studies. Cross-sections of the plant leaves and stems were taken manually and stained with Sartur solution (Çelebioğlu and Baytop 1949). Several slides were made and photographed for each species with an Olympus BH-2 and Canon A 640 digital camera.

The anatomy of the collected specimens were assessed by examination of leaf and stem cross sections (Figures 2, 4, 6). This is the first study about the anatomical features of the leaves and stems of T. alyssifolium, T. brevifolium and T. pestalozzae.

Teucrium pestalozzae Boiss

Leaf anatomy

The epidermis in both surfaces of the leaves is single layered. It is consists of single-layer, ovoid or rectangular cells which are covered by cuticula. The upper epidermis cells are larger than the lower ones. The upper cuticle layer is slightly thicker than the lower ones.

Both surfaces are covered by glandular and non-glandular trichomes. Also, trichomes are abundant on the lower epidermis of leaves and sparse on the upper epidermis of leaves. Leaves are dorsiventral. The spherocrystals occur in the upper epidermis of the mesophyll. Mesophyll is differentiated into 2-layered palisade and 5–6-layered spongy parenchyma. Palisade parenchyma cells are cylindrical shaped in transverse section. The palisade parenchyma occupies about 50–55% of the mesophyll.

The spongy parenchyma cells are ovoid or circular. Both parenchyma tissues densely contain starch grains. Midrib has 5–6 layered collenchyma and 1 layer of parenchyma below the lower epidermis. The collateral vascular bundle is located in the central part of the midvein. The xylem layer is found under the collenchyma. 1–2 layered parenchyma and 4–5 layered collenchyma are located under the phloem (Figure 6A).

Stem anatomy

The stem is rectangular shaped. The epidermis consists of single-layer, rectangular cells which are covered by cuticula. There are glandular and non-glandular trichomes on the epidermis. Underneath the epidermis, there is collenchyma with 1–2 layers between the corners but 7–8 layers of collenchyma at the corner of the stem. The cortex, consisting of 5–6 layers of ovoid shaped parenchymatous cells, is located under the collenchyma. 1–2 layers of sclerenchyma fibres are located above the phloem. The cambium is indistinguishable. Phloem and xylem members are conspicuous. The pith is present in the middle of the stem and is completely composed of orbicular parenchymatic cells (Figure 6B, C).

Table 1.

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Collection data of Teucrium taxa studied.

Taxon	Locality, Voucher number (ISTE)
T. brevifolium	Muğla: Marmaris-Knidos, Datça peninsula, 30–100 m elev., 16 May 2012, T. Özcan, T. Dirmenci, O. Yıldırım, ISTE 101442.
T. pestalozzae	Antalya: Between Antalya and Burdur, Çubuk Beli gateway, 950–1000 m elev., 17 May 2012, T. Özcan, T. Dirmenci, O. Yıldırım, ISTE 101448.
T. alyssifolium	Muğla: Fethiye-Çameli road, Tuzla Beli gateway, 1440 m elev., 14 April 2011,T. Özcan, T. Dirmenci, E. Akçiçek, ISTE 101443.

Figure 1. 

T. alyssifolium. A habitus B inflorescence C flower D leaf.

Figure 2. 

T. alyssifolium, cross-section of the leaf (A), stem (B, C); cl: collenchyma; en: endodermis; gt: glandular trichomes; le: lower epidermis; p: parenchyma; ph: phloem; pp: palisade parenchyma; sc: sclerenchyma; scr: sphaerocrystal, sg: starch grains; sp: spongy parenchyma; t: trichome; ue: upper epidermis; xy: xylem; Scale bars: 50 mµ.

Figure 3. 

T. brevifolium. A habitus B inflorescence C flower D leaf.

Figure 4. 

T. brevifolium, cross-section of the leaf (A), stem (B, C); cl: collenchyma; cu: cuticle; gt: glandular trichomes; le: lower epidermis; ph: phloem; pp: palisade parenchyma; sc: sclerenchyma; scr: sphaerocrystal, sg: starch grains; sp: spongy parenchyma; t: trichome; ue: upper epidermis; xy: xylem; Scale bars: 50 mµ.

Figure 5. 

T. pestalozzae. A habitus B inflorescence C flower D leaf.

Figure 6. 

T. pestalozzae, cross-section of the leaf (A), stem (B, C); cl: collenchyma; cu: cuticle; e: epidermis; gt: glandular trichomes; le: lower epidermis; p: parenchyma; ph: phloem; pp: palisade parenchyma; sc: sclerenchyma; scr: sphaerocrystal, sg: starch grains; sp: spongy parenchyma; t: trichome; ue: upper epidermis; xy: xylem; Scale bars: 50 mµ.

Table 2.

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Morphological and anatomical comparison of studied taxa.

		T. alyssifolium	T. brevifolium	T. pestalozzae
Flowers		Pedicellate	Pedicellate	Pedicellate
Pedicels		2.0–4.0 mm	2.0–12 mm	3.0–5.0 mm
Bracts		Orbicular-ovate, oblanceolate	Linear, linear-oblanceolate	Linear-lanceolate
Bract size		2.0–20 × 1.5–5.0 mm	3.0–9.0 × 1.0 mm	10–12 mm
Calyces		Campanulate	Campanulate	Campanulate
Calyx size		6.0–13 × 4.0–5.0 mm	(3.0-) 4.0–5.0 × 2.0–3.5 mm	5.0–6.0 × 3.0–4.0 mm
Calyx teeth		4.0–5.0 mm	1.0–2.0 × 1.0 mm	2.5–3.0 mm
Corolla		Lilac, light pinkish	White-pinkish	Bluish
Corolla size		20–25 mm	6.5–7.0 mm	9.0–9.5 mm
Filaments		18– 22 mm	8.0–9.0 mm	7.0–8.0 mm
Style		20–22 mm	9.0–10 mm	8.0–9.0 mm
Leaf	Shape	Orbicular-ovate, oblanceolate	Linear or oblanceolate	Linear, obtuse or oblanceolate
	Size	4.0–28 × 2.5–7.0 mm	6.0–17 × 1.0–4.0 mm	11–24 × 2.0–4.0 mm
	Leaf apex	Acute or obtuse at apex	Acute or obtuse at apex	Acute or obtuse at apex
	Cuticular thickness	Cuticular thickness	Equal	Equal
	Epidermal cells	Upper epidermis cells are larger than the lower ones.	Upper epidermal cells are as large as the lower ones	Upper epidermis cells are larger than the lower ones
	Indumentum density	Lower surface is denser than upper ones	Same density on both surface	Lower surface is denser than upper ones
	Mesophyll type	Isolatheral	Dorsiventral	Dorsiventral
	Mesophyll	60–65 % palisade parenchyma	60% palisade parenchyma	60–65 % palisade parenchyma
	Location of spherocrystals	Upper epidermis	Both epidermis	Upper epidermis
	Collenchyma cells layers of midrib	3–4 layered on the lower surface, 5–6 layered on the upper surface	5–6 layered on the lower surface, 2–3 layered on the upper surface	5–6 layered on the lower surface, 4–5 layered on the upper surface
Stem	Length	3.5–9.0 cm	30–110 cm	15–18 cm
	Collenchyma cells layers	1 layer between the corners, 4–5 layered at the corners	3–4 layers between the corners, 6–7 layers at the corners	1–2 layered between the corners, 7–8 layers at the corners
	Cortex parenchyma	3–4 layered	5–6 layered	5–6 layered
	Endodermis	Conspicuous	Inconspicuous	Inconspicuous
	Sclerenchyma	1–2 layered	2–3 cell clusters	1–2 layered

Sect. Teucrium is one of the eight Teucrium sections distributing in Turkey. The members of this section are perennial and shrubs or subshrubs. Leaves are entire to deeply dissected (in T. orientale subspecies, T. parviflorum, T. pruinosum) and revolute at the lower surface.

Flowers borne in racemes or spreading panicles or axillary in upper leaves. Peduncles/pedicels are 1–3-flowered. Calyx not gibbous, obconical-campanulate, teeth ± equal and triangular (Ekim 1982).

Three species showing the characteristic features of the section Teucrium, investigated in the present study, have some significant distinguishing characters. Especially the size of parts of the flowers are very distinctive. T. alyssifolium easily differs with its leaf and bract shape, flower, filament and calyx size from T. brevifolium and T. pestalozzae in their natural habitats (Table 2). T. alyssifolium is dwarf, suffruticose and T. brevifolium and T. pestalozzae are shrublet plants. Stamens of T. alyssifolium are longer than its lips, stamens subequal to lip in T. pestalozzae and slightly shorter than lips in T. brevifolium. T. alyssifolium has the shortest and T. brevifolium has the longest stems.

In this study, morphologically related three taxa belonging to the sect. Teucrium have been investigated. Moreover anatomical features of these three species have been reported for the first time. Our results showed the general anatomical characteristics of three Teucrium species as well those reported by Metcalfe and Chalk (1950) and Dinç et al. (2008, 2009, 2011a, 2011b), Lakusic et al. (2010), Doğu et al. (2013), Özcan (2013).

The results of the present study revealed that there were differences amongst the leaf anatomy of these three taxa (Table 2). The cuticle layer is on both sides and is of equal thickness to the epidermis for T. alyssifolium and T. brevifolium leaves. However, the upper cuticle layer of T. pestalozzae leaves is slightly thicker than the lower ones. The upper epidermis cells are larger than the lower ones as T. alyssifolium and T. pestalozzae, but both epidermis cells are the same size as in T. brevifolium. T. alyssifolium and T. brevifolium have a more dense indumentum than T. pestalozzae. Also, the indumentum of T. brevifolium has the same density on both sides, but the surface of the lower leaves of the other two species is denser than the upper ones. Mesophyll is dorsiventral in T. brevifolium and T. pestalozzae but isolateral in T. alyssifolium. The mesophilic organisation is an important distinguishing character for T. alyssifolium. Mesophyll types may be a good distinctive character in different species but sometimes it can be the same in some closer species (Erdoğan et al. 2012).

The palisade parenchyma shows a slight difference in mesophyll amongst the studied taxa. However, these differences can be based on different ecological conditions. Collenchyma layers are different in midrib amongst these studied taxa. The spherocrystals occur in the upper epidermis of the leaf in T. alyssifolium and T. pestalozzae and both epidermis of the leaf in T. brevifolium. According to Metcalfe and Chalk (1950), druse and simple crystals are generally seen in dicotyledon plants. Absence or presence of the crystals and their density are used to distinguish the genera and their species (Salimpour et al. 2009, Güvenç and Kendir 2012). However, spherocrystals and raphides are less common crystal types for dicotyledons. Spherocrystals and raphides have a diagnostic value for dicotyledons (Dinç et al. 2008, 2009, 2013, Ruiters et al. 2016). According to Dinç et al. (2008, 2009) and Ruiters et al. (2016), spherocrystals are an interspecific classification of sect Teucrium. Our results supported their observations.

Some characteristics of the leaf anatomy which indicates of xeromorphy have been reported before in previous studies (Metcalfe and Chalk 1983, Lakusic et al. 2010, Dinç et al. 2008, 2009). According to the results of our study, the three of taxa have leaves with xeromorphic features such as cuticula layer thickness, dense trichomes and a high proportion of the palisade parenchyma in the mesophyll.

In conclusion, this study shows that leaf and stem anatomy have a diagnostic value in the distinction of these three closely related Teucrium species in sect. Teucrium. Anatomical characters contribute to the separation of three species with the morphological characters.

The stem is rectangle shaped in all species. In general, the stems of the family Lamiaceae species are rectangular (Metcalfe and Chalk 1950, Dinç et al. 2008a, 2009, Kahraman et al. 2009, Çalı 2014) or in some genera not (Khalik 2016). However, the stems of the sect. Polium species in Turkey are not conspicuously rectangular. Parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma layers have some differences amongst the stem of studied taxa. Endodermis is conspicuous only in T. alyssifolium. Three studied taxa display general characteristics of Lamiaceae anatomy.

This work was supported by the Research Fund of İstanbul University (Project number 31081) and Research Fund of Balıkesir University (Project number 2012/8). We are grateful to Jessica Romero as a native speaker for her valuable contributions and language control of this manuscript.