Shahzeidi, H.,
Bagheri, A.,
Lyskov, D.,
Zarre, S.,
Blattner, F.R. Publication Date: 2026
Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants (03672530)336
Leaf epidermal micromorphology was investigated in selected Iranian representatives of the Cachrys clade (Apiaceae) using a comparative approach based on light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A total of multiple taxa representing different genera were examined to assess the taxonomic relevance of stomatal characteristics, trichome morphology, and cuticular ornamentation. Clear intergeneric differences were observed in qualitative characters such as trichome architecture, epidermal cell shape, and cuticular sculpturing, whereas most quantitative stomatal traits, including stomatal density and index, showed limited diagnostic value and appeared to be influenced by ecological or leaf-textural factors. Notably, Azilia eryngioides exhibited a distinctive combination of micromorphological features, including mixed anisocytic–anomocytic stomata, polygonal epidermal cells with flat periclinal walls, and wrinkled cuticular sculpturing, supporting its current generic circumscription. As the material examined was based on herbarium specimens, environmentally sensitive quantitative traits should be interpreted with caution. Overall, the results indicate that foliar micromorphological characters, particularly stable qualitative traits, provide useful complementary evidence for generic delimitation within the Cachrys clade, but are insufficient on their own to resolve intergeneric relationships, emphasizing the value of integrative taxonomic approaches combining morphological, molecular, and ecological data. © 2026
