Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVI, Issue 1
Written by Cătălin George SIMEANU, Daniel RĂDUŢOIU
Morphological and anatomical studies are of great importance to species of the genus Limonium, because they are essential for their correct differentiation. Limonium tomentellum (Boiss.) O. Kuntze. represents a plant of great sozological importance for Romania and it is mentioned in humid, halophilous meadows. A few specialized works include floristic and vegetation studies that mention this species, but data on the morphology and especially on the anatomy of the vegetative organs of this taxon are rare or absent. The analysed vegetal material originated in the classic sampling location given for this species in Romania (Bratovoieşti - Dolj County). The specimens were collected in full bloom. The roots of the specimens under study are taproots, vary in length, being comprised between 70 and 120 cm, and they have a secondary structure. At the level of the central cylinder, the stem has sclerenchyma, where the vascular bundles are located, being placed on three concentric circles. This tissue replaces the fundamental parenchyma. The leaves display an isolateral structure, their petiole having a semi-cylindrical shape, with a strongly convex lower part and a slightly concave upper part that extends on the two edges with a triangular formation with pointed end. It has six large steles towards the abaxial face and ten smaller steles towards the adaxial face, while each of the two extensions of the petiole contains two small steles that are placed one below the other; therefore, it is a polystelic petiole.
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