Anatomical Study of Twelve Mimosoideae Species in Iraq

Abstract

A field collection of plant samples from the province of Baghdad included 12 species belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae (Fabaceae)to study the anatomical properties of the stems, petioles, leaf blade and midrib. The results showed a distinct difference in the target anatomical properties. Where Calliandra haematocephala had the highest blade thickness (206.3,205.4- 209.2) μm, and Albizia lebbeck gave the highest cuticle thickness (34.8, 28.1-35.2) μm and the lower epidermis (26.1-30.5 (28.4) μm. Furthermore, Calliandra haematocephala achieved a thickness of (29.1 -33.1 (31.6)) μm. Anatomical images of the midrib and petiole revealed obvious differences in the bundle shapes. The study of the anatomical characteristics of the stem showed a superiority of Albizia julibrissin in cuticle thickness (3.4-5.6 (4.75)) μm., Leucaena leucocephala subsp. leucocephala was superior in epidermal thickness ((30.2-36.5 (35.6) μm. while Prosopis juliflora outnumbered and superior in cortex thickness ((71.2-75.6 (72.4 μm)). Both species, Albizia julibrissin, and Leucaena leucocephala subsp. glabrata, had eglandular hairs on the epidermis of the stem. Mimosa pudica was superior in vascular bundle thickness (353.4) μm. Cross sections of the stems showed clear differences between the examined species in their anatomical features.