Micromorphological Characters of Fruits of Some Anchusa L. (Boraginaceae) Species from Turkey

Abstract

Six taxa of Anchusa L. collected from Northern Turkey were investigated to evaluate the taxonomic importance of fruit
morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study shows that the mericarps commonly called “nutlets” are
obliquely ovoid to oblong ovoid with an acute lateral beak and a thick basal areole. In Anchusa azurea Miller var. azurea erect
a mericarp with rounded apex is typical. This species can be discriminated by the size of mericarp (2.0-4.5×5.0-9.0 mm). In all
the taxa, the coat surface showed a mixture of small, flattaned papillae and tubercles with variable density depending on the taxa.
In A. azurea var. azurea and A. arvensis (L.) Bieb. subsp. orientalis (L.) Nordh., the papillae was simple, while in the other taxa
have a lobed, rosette-like shape. This can be used as a good taxonomic character. Because it shows significant differences between
species.