Anatomical and morphological study of stem, leaf and peduncle in some species of Potamogeton (Potamogetonaceae) in the north of Iran

Potamogeton L. is the largest genus (Potamogetonaceae) that nearly include 100 species of aquatic plants. 11 species of this genus are distributed in Iran. Potamogetonspecies are found worldwide in many aquatic ecosystems. However, the greatest diversity of species occurs in the northern hemisphere, especially in North America, which is thought to be where the genus originated. In this study, cross-sections of stems, leaf and peduncle of some genera of Potamogeton (P. natans, P. perfoliatus P. lucens, P. crispus) in order to separate the species from each other, was investigated. The studied species were collected from Gorgan, Mazandaran (Sari, Noshahr), Guilan (Anzali, Astaneh, Sowme eh Sara) provinces. The samples were placed in a 1:1 ratio of alcohol / glycerin fixation for 5 days. Then they were cut with commercial cutter blades and then stained with green methyl and red Congo. The subepidermal bundles was only present in P. natans and interlacunar bundles was seen in P. lucens and P. natans that is not present in other species. Therefore, the presence or absence of subepidermal bundles and interlacunar bundles is a diagnostic feature in this genus.

Keywords:

Potamogeton , Leaf , Stem , Morphology , Anatomy , Vascular bundles