Biosystematic Relationships among Sect.Elymus,Sect.Turczaninovia and Sect.Macrolepis in Elymus(Poaceae) Based on the Micromorphological Characteristics of Leaf Epidermis
Abstract:The leaf epidermises of the major species of sect.Elymus, sect.Turczaninovia and sect.Macrolepis in Elymus were examined, their similarities and differences on the leaf epidermis were summarized, and the taxonomic significance of leaf epidermal features among them was discussed as well. Furthermore, according to the evolutionary trends of leaf epidermal characteristics of three sects, their evolutionary positions and relationships were inferred. The results show that the sect. Elymus is the most primitive one among these three sects, the sect.Turczaninovia is slightly more advanced than the former, and the sect.Macrolepis is the most advanced of them; the sect.Elymus might produce immediately the sect.Turczaninovia, whereas the sect.Macrolepis might derive immediately form the sect.Turczaninovia. The biosystmatic relationships of these three sects are corroborated by the evolutionary trend of external morphology.