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MICROMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF SEVEN SPECIES OF THE GENUS MEDlCAGO L., (FABACEAE) FROM PAKISTAN

S.Z. HUSAIN*, KHADIJA AZIZ, SALEHA TAHIR SYEDA* AND NUSRAT JAHAN

Abstract: Using Scanning Electron Microscope a micromorphological study of leaf and seed coat surfaces of all the 7 species in the genus Medicago L, from Pakistan was carried out. The seed coat sculpturing revealed 3 main surface patterns viz., verrucate, papillate and rumeniate-tugose. Leaf epidermis was found to be covered with waxy material in all taxa, exhibiting verrucate to colliculate pattern with irregular arrangement of cells. Leaf trichomes are unicellular with granulate surfaces. A key based on micromorphological characters observed has been proposed to identify the species.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
School of Plant Sciences, Plant Science Laboratories, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading.  RG6 2AS, Berkshire, England.