COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF SOME SEDUM SPECIES (CRASSULACEAE) IN TURKEY AND DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE SPECIES

Sedum is a large genus belonging to the Crassulaceae family. Some members of the genus are medically vital. This study investigated the anatomical characteristics of Sedum acre L., Sedum album L., and Sedum pallidum M. Bieb. distributed in Turkey. In the light of the findings obtained, the internal structure features distinguishing the species from each other are revealed. In the cross-sections taken by hand, it is determined that the species' roots are in the secondary structure. Large intercellular spaces are identified in the cortex of the S. album root. The cuticle layer is present on the epidermis of the stem cross-section and the alkaloids were found in the cortex of the stem. Both the upper and bottom surfaces of the leaves have anisocytic stomata, which may be seen on both sides of the leaf. In the cross section of the S. acre leaf, the vascular bundles are not scattered, unlike the S. album and S. pallidum, and are in regular rows in the center. The statistical results obtained reveal that some anatomical characters may be necessary for distinguishing these three species. Characteristics such as stem epidermis size, stem cuticle thickness, the diameter of the stem cortex parenchyma cell, stoma size on the lower and upper surface of the leaf can be considered to be of diagnostic importance.