Introduction of seed and capsule micromorphological features of the genus Scrophularia (Scrophulariaceae) in Iran

Abstract

In the present study, seed surface ornamentations in 31 species (34 populations) and the capsule surface sculpturing in five species of the genus Scrophularia L. distributed in Iran were examined using Scanning Electronic Microscopy. Based on the published seed surface terminologies, all examined seeds show the reticulate pattern with scalariform inner ornamentations. However, there is enough but untrustworthy variations in epidermal cell shapes and the walls’ characteristics to divide the seed surface sculpturing patterns into four different groups: (1) cells with completely irregular shape; (2) cells without distinct shape so that their boundaries are not clear; (3) reticulate polygonal cells bordered with distinct walls neither undulate nor vesiculate, divided in two subgroups; forming elongated narrow cells and wide cells; (4) reticulate polygonal cells bordered with undulated or sometimes vesiculate walls divided in two subgroups; forming elongated narrow cells and wide cells. In addition, all the species' seeds can be alveolate, ridged or without distinct alveoli or ridges regarding their surfaces. There have also been variations in size, shape and color of the seeds even in a single individual. There are no applicable features of capsule surface sculpturing analyzed here, based on which species could be classified in certain groups.