Taxonomic status of Aster, Galatella and Tripolium (Asteraceae) in view of anatomical and micromorphological evidence
26 October 2014
Karanovic, Dunja; Lukovic, Jadranka; Zoric, Lana; Anackov, Goran; Boza, PalUsing light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), comparative analysis of anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of leaf, stem and peduncle was carried out on five species of the family Asteraceae (Aster amellus, Galatella linosyris, G. cana, G. sedifolia and Tripolium pannonicum), previously included in Aster. However, more recent morphological and phylogenetic studies indicate that Galatella and Tripolium should be excluded from this genus and considered as separate genera. The aim of the present research was to establish whether these species could be differentiated at the anatomical level. This would further inform the decision to separate the four aforementioned species from genus Aster, as well as indicate whether anatomical data confirmed the proposed definition of genera Galatella and Tripolium as such. The anatomical observations and data evaluation using discriminant and correspondence analysis showed that the combination of selected qualitative and quantitative characters distributed the species into three separate groups, corresponding to the three genera. The characters of leaf blade, its epidermis in particular, proved to be of the highest significance for discrimination at generic rank. The specific qualitative features that characterize each of the species and the genera were emphasized. Our findings support the attribution of the examined species to three genera, which proved to be anatomically distinguishable and well defined.