Foliar epidermis morphology in Quercus (subgenus Quercus, section Quercus) in Iran

Foliar epidermis morphology inQuercus(subgenusQuercus, sectionQuercus) in IranThe foliar morphology of trichomes, epicuticular waxes and stomata inQuercus cedrorum, Q. infectoriasubsp.boissieri, Q. komarovii, Q. longipes, Q. macranthera, Q. petraeasubsp.ibericaandQ. robursubsp.pedunculiflorawere studied by scanning electron microscopy. The trichomes are mainly present on abaxial leaf surface in most species, but rarely they appear on adaxial surface. Five trichome types are identified as simple uniseriate, bulbous, solitary, fasciculate and stellate. The stomata of all studied species are of the anomocytic type, raised on the epidermis. The stomata rim may or may not be covered with epicuticular. The epicuticular waxes are mostly of the crystalloid type but smooth layer wax is observed inQ. robursubsp.pedunculiflora.Statistical analysis revealed foliar micromorphological features as been diagnostic characters inQuercus.