Specific anatomical identification of Convallaria majalis (Asparagaceae), a medicinal plant with a sciophytic character

A. Sardarova

doi:10.15421/0225140

A. Sardarova Azerbaijan State Agricultural University

Keywords: unilateral endodermis thickening, polygonal xylem, lignification in phloem, idioblast, concentric type bundle, anisocytic morphological variations in mesoderm.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the specific anatomical diagnostic features and structural adaptations of Convallaria majalis in accordance with its ecological group, based on anatomical investigations of its vegetative organs. For the first time in the flora of Azerbaijan, a comprehensive anatomical study has been conducted on C. majalis , providing fundamental information on its diagnostic characteristics and structural variability associated with its shade-loving (sciophytic) nature. These findings contribute significantly to the fields of biodiversity, systematics, ecology, phytogeography, and applied botany. Vegetative organs of C. majalis were collected and fixed for dehydration and subsequently subjected to anatomical, microscopic, histochemical, and biometric analyses. Micropreparations prepared using modern digital optical microscopes allowed tissue- and cellular-level examination, structural clarification, and acquisition of micrometric measurements. The presence of aerenchyma, a tissue associated with hypoxic regulation, was identified in the vegetative organs of C. majalis . As an indicator of its sciophytic character, the localization of photosynthetic compounds within the leaf mesophyll was observed. A significant scientific novelty in plant anatomy was the identification, for the first time, of a structure belonging to the “endoaerenchymal stomatal-epidermal complex” located in the pith of the stem of C. majalis . The theoretical and practical data obtained in this study enable the anatomical-level identification of the species by highlighting its specific features. The anatomical characteristics of C. majalis provide a basis for distinguishing it from closely related taxonomic groups, serving as a biomarker for the clarification of species diversity within biosystems. The identified anatomical traits reflect functional diversity within the biosystem, clearly demonstrating the role of C. majalis in ecosystem services. Additio n ally, micrographic visualizations were conducted to determine which organs show higher localization of metabolic products. These organs may be considered more effective sources of raw materials for phytotherapeutic applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

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