Comparative anatomical studies on the two Stachys species (sect. Eriostomum, subsect. Germanicae) growing in Turkey

In this study, comparative anatomical studies on the two Stachys species (sect. Eriostomum, subsect. Germanicae) in Turkey were carried out on the plants collected from their type localities. These species are Stachys balansae Boiss. & Kotschy and Stachys carduchorum (R. Bhattacharjee) Rech. f. which are morphologically very similar to each other. Anatomical properties of Germanicae subsection was reported for the first time. In anatomical studies, the root, stem, leaf and petioles have been examined under light microscope in details; microphotographs was taken and micro-anatomical measurements of cells and tissues was done and presented in table. In anatomical results, there is almost no marked difference in anatomical structures of the roots and stems cross sections belonging to the taxa, however, anatomical differences are clear in vascular bundles present in median veins of the cross sections taken from the leaves and petioles. Anatomic properties of the two species was determined to be similar to the anatomic properties of other species of the genus Stachys.