Leaf anatomy of valuable species of genus Primula

Abstract

In this research, we discovered a number of structural adaptations and informative characteristics for the leaf blades of the studied species from the genus Primula L. The species under study were found to have anomocytic stomatal type. The leaf blades are hypostomatic (P. denticulata) or with the predominant abaxial stomata (P. macrocalyx, P. pallasii). The following indicators have low variation): size of stomata, number of cells in the upper and lower epidermis, height of cells in the upper mesophyll layer, lamina thickness near the midvein and central part, phloem cross-section area, and vascular bundle area. High and very high variation level is observed for the quantitative indicators describing the leaf indument density, number of stomata and stomatal index of the upper epidermis. The data obtained can be used to evaluate the species adaptability and to develop the appropriate light and hydrothermal regime for cultivating the species in the Western Siberia sub-boreal forest environment.