Study of the morphological and anatomical characteristics of Papaver L. species (Papaver hybridum, Papaver rhoeas, Papaver dubium, Papaver polytrichum, Papaver umbonatum, Papaver syriacum) widespread in different Syrian environments

Abstract

This study included the morphological characteristics (shoots - flowers - leaves - fruit) and anatomical characteristics (stem - Trichomes) in descriptive and standard terms for the six species: Papaver rhoeas, Papaver dubium L., Papaver hybridum L., Papaver polytrichum B., Papaver umbonatum B., Papaver syriacum

from the  Papaver sp. in the areas of (Damascus - - Deir Attiya - Al-Suwayda). Then compare the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the six species at the descriptive and standard levels and study the extent to which these characteristics are statistically significant. The study also included an emphasis on the extent of stability or change in the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the studied species to determine the most important taxonomic criterion for wild Papaver sp.  species in Syria.

 This study showed that the regions (Damascus - Deir Attiya) are characterized by a large spread of the species Papaver rhoeas, Papaver dubium, Papaver hybridum, Papaver polytrichum, and Papaver umbonatum, while the large spread of the species Papaver syriacum was observed in As-Suwayda (Salkhad - Al-Mashqoud). In terms of descriptive morphological characteristics, the studied species were distinguished by a set of distinctive characteristics for each species in terms of general shape. (shoots - flowers - fruits), and at the anatomical level, the species showed great similarity in terms of the general structure of the stem and the types of the Trichomes. The studied species were also characterized by the presence of a group of variable characteristics, which therefore cannot be relied upon as a classification criterion, while the fruit was the basic and first criterion in classifying and distinguishing the studied papaver sp, based on the results of this study.