Results of comparative anatomical studies species of the genus Suaeda Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel. of arid regions of Kazakhstan

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study of anatomical structures of species of the genus Suaeda Forssk. ex J.F. Gmel. growing in arid zones of Kazakhstan. Anatomical features of leaf and stem structure of the following species are considered: Suaeda altissima (L.) Pall., S. acuminata (C.A. Mey.) Moq., S. linifolia Pall., S. physophora Pall. and S. microphylla Pall. The anatomical structure of leaves of succulent plants, in particular Suaeda, differs significantly from that of non-succulents. The shape of leaves of such plants is usually cylindrical. The results of studying the anatomical structure of leaves of the listed species indicate that, like most representatives of the genus Suaeda, they belong to the Salsina-type. Biometric studies were carried out while describing anatomical sections of leaves and stems. The succulent nature of halophytic representatives of the genus is due to their ability to accumulate water in the form of juice in the above-ground part during the rainy season. This allows them to do without moisture from the outside for quite a long time. Moisture accumulates mainly in the stems or leaves. In the first case, the plants are called stem plants, and in the second, leaf succulents.The relevance of the study of the genus Suaeda is due to their belonging to the group of important halophytic components of the flora of both desert and steppe regions. Among them there are medicinal (Suaeda microphylla Pall.), fodder (S. altissima ( L.) Pall.) plants. Species S. linifolia, S. acuminata quite often weed and can be indicators of anthropogenic disturbances.