Taxonomic Significance of Anatomical Characters in Some Species of Apiaceae Family in Iraq

The study included the anatomical characteristics of nine species belonging to the nine genera of the Apiaceae family: Chaerophyllum macropodum Boiss, Grammosciadium scabridum (Boiss.) B.L. Burtt & P.H. Davis, Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Lisaea strigosa (Banks & Sol.) Eig, Ormosciadium aucheri Boiss, Pimpinella puberula (DC.) Boiss., Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl., Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link and Zosima absinthifolia (Vent.) Link. The results showed that anatomical characteristics were important in the separation of taxa, two types have been recognized in the mesophyll of leaves: dorsiventral (Bifacial) recorded in the Grammosciadium scabridum, Prangos ferulacea, Pimpinella puberula species and isobilateral in the remaining species. Palisade tissue differs between species; it contains 3-4 palisade layers in most species except Pimpinella puberula contains one layer. Transverse sections of the midrib showed that most species contain one vascular bundle, except Lisaea strigosa which contains 1-3 vascular bundles. The thickness of the stem has a higher value in Foeniculum vulgare 2466.66 μm and a lower value in Prangos ferulacea 890.5 μm. Three types of distinct tissues are recognized in the cortex, angular collenchyma, sclerenchyma, and parenchyma tissue in taxa under investigation. The stems contain secretory ducts that are round or cylindrical.