Ultrastructure of the air pores as a diagnostic feature of the <i>Liriope</i> Lour. genus.

• Main Authors: Karpun Jury Nikolaevich, KONNOV Nicolay Alekseevich, Romanov Mikhail Sergeevich
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Petrozavodsk State University 2015-12-01
• Series: Hortus Botanicus
• Subjects: Liriope; ультраскульптура устьиц; эпикутикулярный воск; газон
• Online Access: http://hb.karelia.ru/journal/article.php?id=3042

The paper examines the issue of taxonomy of the <i>Liriope</i> genus, what, to some extent, prevents an effective research of the representatives of this genus in order to find lawn grass substitutes for shady places. For a more accurate identification of the <i>Liriope</i> samples available in the collection of the Kuban Subtropical Botanical Garden (Sochi), we have used scans of the ultrastructure of the air pores and epicuticular wax particles made by Camscan S-2 (x1000). Based on the comparative analysis of these micrographs we’ve found out that the species <i>L. koreana</i> and <i>L. platyphylla</i> are independent species. The sample <i>L. aff. muscari</i> was identified as <i>L. zhejiangensis</i> G. H. Xia et G. Y. Li, described as a separate species in 2012. The comparative analysis of <i>L. muscari 'Royal Purple' </i> and <i>L. muscari 'Variegata' </i> raised some doubts about belonging of these common cultivars to the same species. The survey results will allow us to solve the problem of long-term field experience and correct the course of our work with the representatives of this genus.