Comparative botanical studies on three genera of Liliaceae.

Khalil, A. B. I.; Moussa, A. A.A. and Farid, M. S.

Abstract

This study is conducted on 8 species representing 3 genera belonging to Liliaceae. These genera are Allium (5 species), Lilium (2 species) and Tulipa (1 species). The samples are collected from different regions in Egypt. The study is done on the morphological characters of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and inflorescences. Also the anatomical characters of roots, stems and leaves are studied. The results are recorded in the form of a comparison among the examined plants. The examined plants are herbs and annual as in Lilium longiflorum except in two species are biennial as in Allium cepa and A. kurrat. The subterranean stems are present in all of the examined plants as in Allium triquetrum except the genus Lilium is arial and subterranean stems. The radical leaves are in most the examined plants as in Allium triquetrum and cauline in the genus Lilium. The leaves are linear as in Allium kurrat, lanceolate as in Lilium rhodopeum and tubular as in Allium cepa only. Flowers in most of the examined plants are in an inflorescerces as in Allium cepa while are solitary in Tulipa biflora and Lilium species. The anatomical study shows that the center of stem of cross section is solid in all stems of the examined plants except Allium cepa is hollow. The mesophylic tissue in leaves consists of palisade and spongy cells in most of the examined plants as in Allium sativum, but consists of spongy cells only in Allium porrum, Allium triquetrum and Tulipa biflora.

Key words

morphological, anatomical, leaf, stem, root