Comparative Morphology and SEM –Based Micromorphology of 11 Galium L. Taxa From Eskişehir, Türkiye

ABSTRACT This study investigated the morphological and SEM‐based micromorphological characteristics of 11 Galium L. taxa representing eight sections occurring in Eskişehir Province, Türkiye, to identify taxonomically informative characters. Morphological and micromorphological assessments were conducted on stems, leaves, flowers, and mericarps, with particular emphasis on epidermal cell morphology, stomatal distribution, trichome characteristics, and surface ornamentation. The investigated taxa comprised three annual and eight perennial taxa. Considerable interspecific variation was observed in plant habit, leaf morphology, inflorescence architecture, floral characters, and mericarp morphology. SEM analyses showed that stem and leaf epidermal cells were generally sinuous and puzzle‐shaped, whereas stomatal distribution and trichome density, orientation, and morphology varied among taxa and provided valuable diagnostic characters. Mericarp micromorphology, particularly surface ornamentation and trichome structure, provided particularly useful diagnostic information for taxon delimitation. The integration of macro‐ and micromorphological evidence enabled the differentiation of the investigated taxa and highlighted the taxonomic value of combining conventional morphology with SEM observations. These findings provide additional morphological and micromorphological information for the identification and characterization of the Galium taxa examined in Eskişehir Province and contribute to a better understanding of taxon delimitation within the genus.