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Abstract <p>The taxonomic importance of nutlet micromorphological and macromorphological traits among 12 species of the genera <i>Cyperus, Heliotropium</i>, and <i>Onosma</i> was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The study aimed to identify unique ultra-structural characteristics of nutlets that would be useful for identification, helping to accurately determine and clarify their taxonomic position. This study explored the ultrastructure and micromorphological diversity among the examined genera. Using SEM analysis, we investigated nutlet features such as hilum position and depth, cell outline, surface texture and sculpturing, epidermal cell arrangement, and the nature of anticlinal and periclinal walls. Particular attention was given to exo-morphological traits, including regular, pentagonal, or hexagonal epidermal cell patterns. The highest seed length was observed in <i>Onosma dichroantha,</i> 5.75  ±  0.18 mm, whereas the lowest seed length was found in <i>Cyperus compressus</i>, 1.08  ±  0.06 mm. Similarly, the maximum value of the seed width was present in <i>Onosma hispida</i>, 3.25  ±  0.13 mm, while the minimum value was recorded in <i>Cyperus nutans</i>, 0.75  ±  0.10&#xa0;mm. These characteristics proved valuable for distinguishing species within the studied genera and provided strong taxonomic insights. Our findings highlight that SEM-based examination of nutlet traits can serve as a reliable tool for identifying plant taxa at both genus and species levels, offering potential for new taxonomic discoveries.</p>

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Taxonomic Implications of Seed Morphology of Cyperus, Heliotropium, and Onosma Using Scanning Electron Microscopy: Key Tools for Accurate Taxonomic Identifications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月1日

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  • Faten Zubair Filimban,
  • Ateef Ullah,
  • Shabir Ahmad,
  • Hussain Shah,
  • Rashid Iqbal,
  • Khushdil Khan,
  • Muhammad Junaid,
  • Muhammad Mahran Aslam

摘要

Abstract

The taxonomic importance of nutlet micromorphological and macromorphological traits among 12 species of the genera Cyperus, Heliotropium, and Onosma was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The study aimed to identify unique ultra-structural characteristics of nutlets that would be useful for identification, helping to accurately determine and clarify their taxonomic position. This study explored the ultrastructure and micromorphological diversity among the examined genera. Using SEM analysis, we investigated nutlet features such as hilum position and depth, cell outline, surface texture and sculpturing, epidermal cell arrangement, and the nature of anticlinal and periclinal walls. Particular attention was given to exo-morphological traits, including regular, pentagonal, or hexagonal epidermal cell patterns. The highest seed length was observed in Onosma dichroantha, 5.75  ±  0.18 mm, whereas the lowest seed length was found in Cyperus compressus, 1.08  ±  0.06 mm. Similarly, the maximum value of the seed width was present in Onosma hispida, 3.25  ±  0.13 mm, while the minimum value was recorded in Cyperus nutans, 0.75  ±  0.10 mm. These characteristics proved valuable for distinguishing species within the studied genera and provided strong taxonomic insights. Our findings highlight that SEM-based examination of nutlet traits can serve as a reliable tool for identifying plant taxa at both genus and species levels, offering potential for new taxonomic discoveries.