Anatomical Study in Avena L. (Poaceae) Species of Iran.

Avena L. is a grass genus with 7 species in Iran. Aims of this project were to study qualitative and quantitative anatomical characters، to use anatomical characters in efficient separation of taxa and to find the most variable anatomical characters in Avena species of Iran. Leaf anatomical structure in 44 populations of four species of Avena in Iran: A. fatua، A. ludoviciana، A. wiestii and A. barbata were studied by a vast gathering from different locations in Iran. Leaf anatomical structure was studied by considering dorsal epidermis and cross sections at the middle of leaf. Totally 22 quantitative and qualitative characters were evaluated and measured. Observed variations were analyzed statistically by Factor، Principal component and Cluster analysis. Our results indicate that features as stomata orientation، different hair type، presence or absence of short cells in dorsal epidermis and the condition of wrinkles and length and width of bulliform cells and the number of cells in inner bundle sheath in leaf corss sections are of diagnostic value. Due to studied characters، their diagnostic value is discussed.