Anatomical Remarks of Some Species of Silene and Bufonia (Caryophyllaceae), Endemic to Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

Anatomical features of stem and leaf have been studied on four endemic species collected from St.Katherine area, S Sinai, Egypt. viz. Silene leucophylla Boiss., S. oreosinaica, S. schimperiana and Bufonia multiceps is provided for the first time. Comparative study based on leaf and stem anatomical structure was made using both light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Druses were found abundantly in both leaf and stem tissue in studied Silene taxa, absent in Bufonia multiceps. Stomata were mostly diacytic or both diacytic and anomocytic were also recorded. Surface view of epidermal cells were straight or undulated Epicuticular wax platelets have been observed on epidermal and guard cells of S.schweinfurthii and S.leucophylla. The stem anatomical characters were found distinct in each species. Leaf epidermal anatomy revealed great taxononmical values which can be used for the identification of each species. anatomical features of stem and leaf have been studied on four endemic species collected from St.Katherine area, S Sinai, Egypt. viz. Silene leucophylla Boiss., S. oreosinaica, S. schimperiana and Bufonia multiceps is provided for the first time.