The anatomy and micromorphology of the vegetative organs and calyx of Stachys
scardica (Griseb.) Hayek were investigated using light (LM) and scanning
electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis of the anatomical structure of stem,
leaf and leaf petiole showed the presence of an additional adaxial phloem in
the vascular bundle of the petiole that was recorded exclusively in species
belonging to the subgenus Betonica. On the surface of studied plant parts,
three types of trichomes were found: simple nonglandular uniseriate
multicellular, nonglandular branched elongated and glandular peltate
trichomes. The present study shows that certain micromorphological and
anatomical features of Stachys taxa are valuable taxonomic characters.
[Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173029]