Solving some ambiguities using micromorphological traits in some species of Campanula in the north and northwest of Iran

In the present research, scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to observe the outer perianth (sepal) of 14 species of Campanula (Campanulaceae) in the north and northwest of Iran through micromorphological studies. Hence, by a precise observation, the perianths were examined in terms of hairiness, hair shape, hair density and epidermal pattern, and then a table of traits was prepared. The species were further categorized into two groups: hairy and hairless; in terms of hairiness, into five groups: stellate, strigose, villouse, crispate, and hooked; and in terms of hair variations into five groups: striate, rugose, cup-shaped, papillate; and striate-papillate. According to the results, the species complex C. reuteriana and C. propinqua exhibit differences in terms of the hair type, perianth, as well as epidermal pattern of the perianth. Furthermore, based on the results of this research, the micromorphological studies of the epidermal pattern of perianth confirmed the separation of species complex C. trachelium from C. latifolia. In general, the present study revealed that, species are differentiated and identified via their micromorphological features.