Fruit anatomy of some Apiaceae plant species from Nigde-Aladaglar/Turkey

Abstract

Anatomical characters are very important to distinguish between closely related species and genera, especially in the family Apiaceae. Anatomy of Apiaceae fruits varies strongly, even among closely related species in the same genus. An ethnobotanical study was conducted between 2004 and 2005 in order to determine wild used plants in West part of Nigde-Aladaglar. According the data of this study's, 3 plant species belong to Apiaceae family sold to different tea companies by local people. Anatomical characteristics of fruits of the Ferulago pachyloba, Prangos ferulacea, Prangos meliocarpoides have been studied. Ferulago pachyloba has winged dorsal ribs, equal to or shorter than seeds. Prangos ferulacea has five blocks of mesocarp, they are not separated by the exocarp and the vascular bundles usually surround each block. Prangos meliocarpoides has continuous mesocarp and not separated into blocks. Druse crystals do not exist in the endosperm of F. pachyloba, P. ferulacea, and P. meliocarpoides.