Anatomy of Paeonia mascula (L.) Mill. (Paeoniaceae)

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim of this investigation was to explore the anatomical structures of the stem, leaf, petiole, petal, and fruit of Paeonia mascula. Methods: Plant specimens were collected from Aşkale/Erzurum (Turkey) in July 2017. Subsequently, standard herbarium techniques were employed to dry and preserve the samples, which were stored at the Herbarium of Atatürk University, Biodiversity Application and Research Center. For anatomical analysis, the materials were preserved in 70% alcohol. Characteristic elements of these plant parts were identified through sectioning, and their structures were visually documented with photographs. Results: The leaf exhibited a bifacial arrangement, and stomata were observed on the lower leaf epidermis. Furthermore, unicellular trichomes and druses were observed to prominent in both the leaf and stem of P. mascula. Additionally, starch-bearing parenchyma was identified in the pericarp anatomy, and druses were also present in the seed. Conclusion: Comprehensive characterization of the anatomical properties of P. mascula was demonstrated in this study. The findings obtained in this study suggest that the observed anatomical diversity may have potential benefits in taxonomical classification.