Abstract:
This study for the first time examined foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics (Epidermal cells, types of stomata and trichomes) of thirteen Artemisia species (Including rare ones) with Light microscopy (LM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) from the Northeast (Gilgit-Baltistan) region of Pakistan. The epidermal cells varied from polygonal to irregular and elongate in shape, while wavy to smooth in margins. This investigation revealed four different types of stomata viz; Anomocytic, diacytic, anomotetracytic and anisocytic, which were unequally scattered on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of studied Artemisia species. Ten different types of trichomes were observed in the studied species. Four types of glandular trichomes including peltate, pluricellular, capitate and thin necked were observed, whereas six types of nonglandular trichomes including, Aduncate, unicellular calavate, conical type, stinging hair type, unicellular tector and unicellurar filiform were observed. This study authenticated that the morphology of these foliar anatomical characteristics in amalgamation with other features are helpful for the species delimitation within the genus Artemisia.