Abstract This study elucidates the foliar micromorphology of 47 Rosaceous species belonging to 19 genera adapted from temperate to alpine habitats. We hypothesized that the comparative anatomical attributes of 47 Rosaceous taxa were analyzed using light microscopy. Both leaves’ surfaces exhibited differences in leaf anatomical traits, including type of stomata, epidermis, anticlinal wall, lobes, and diversity of trichomes. The epidermal cells are reported as trigonal, tetragonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, irregular, wavy, and polygonal. The largest epidermal cells were examined in Duchesnea indica (89.1 μm) on the abaxial surface and on the adaxial surface in Sanguisorba minor (78.8 μm), respectively. The largest stomatal complex was recorded in Duchesnea indica (105.5 μm) and Geum elatum (100.8 μm), while the smallest in Malus pumila (23.7 μm). The maximum stomatal index (SI) was calculated at 41.93% in Potentilla nepalensis. Stellate trichomes were observed on both surfaces of Rubus vestitus, while capitate trichomes were observed only in 13 species belonging to the genus Potentilla, Rubus, Fragaria, Geum, Duchesnea, Sibbaldia, and Acomastylis, especially on the abaxial surface. The current findings of the foliar micromorphological traits are of special interest for plant taxonomists for the correct identification of Rosaceous species. The ultrastructured foliar epidermis shows many novel characteristics of systematic relevance and provides baseline information to plant taxonomists for further study.
Abdullah et al. (Wed,) studied this question.