Anatomical study of Rubus subgenus Rubus in Iran

Rubus L. genus from Rosaceae has about 750 species, from which 8 species and 5 hybrids from Iran. In this study stem, leaflet, petiole, stipule and pedicle anatomy of 7 species of the genus Rubus subgenus. Rubus is invesgitated. These species include R. sanctus, R. persicus, R. hyrcanus, R. hirtus, R. dilichocarpus, R. discolor and R. caesius. Plant samples were collected and then fixed and handmade cross-section of leave were prepared and stained with methyl green and carmine. Several slides were studies and photographed with light microscope (LM). Among studied character, five quantitative features such as shape of transvers cross section, type of glandular and non-glandular trichome, presence or absence of stalk glandular trichome, distribution of calcium oxalate crystal and thickness of cuticle were studied in separation of species. Also, five quantitative features such as number of vascular bundles, number of collenchyma layer (in stem and petiole), number of palisade and spongy paranchymatous layer (in leaflet) and presence or absence palisade paranchymatous in stipule are valuable and can be used in distinguishing species.