trichome micromorphology of silene (caryophyllaceae) species in iran

A comparative trichrome micromorphological study of 24 silene species representing eight sections, was made using light and scanning electron microscopy. to check the consistency of trichome types on different parts of a certain species, micromorphological studies were focused on stem, leaf and calyx surface. two basic types of trichomes were distinguished: glandular and nonglandular. two different subtypes were recognized within the nonglandular type representing unbranched nonglandular and branched nonglandular trichomes. the study shows that although trichomes are not useful in delimiting silene sections, they provide a set of reliable characters for separation of species within sections. the presence or absence of trichomes, and trichome types could be used as diagnostic character for identification of some species.