Morphological Diversity of Some <i>Tephrosia</i> Species (Fabaceae) in Saudi Arabia
- 1 Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Jeddah, KSA.
Abstract
Morphological features of nine wild species belonging to the genus Tephrosia PER growing in Saudi Arabia were extensively studied in order to support the diversity and simplify the identification of these species. The studied features included macro and micro morphological features of stem, leaves, flowers and pods. The most important features regarded for distinction of Saudi Arabia species of Tephrosia were pods shape, color, size, dehiscence and number of seeds per pod, inflorescences position, flower opening, shape of the upper 2 teeth of calyx, shape of sepals apex, shape of wings, length of hairs on ovary, direction of staminal tube tip, leaflets shape and surface and stem habit form and life spin. A key for the identification of the investigated species based on these morphological features is provided.
- J. C. Willis, “Dictionary of Flowering Plant and Ferns,” University Press, Cambridge, 1973, p. 1135.
- W. Zhi and L. Pedley, “Tephrosia Pers,” Flora of China, Vol. 10, 2010, pp. 190-193.
- S. Collenette, “An Illustrated Guide to the Flowers of Saudi Arabia,” Scorpion publishing Ltd., London, 1985.
- A. M. Migahid, “Flora of Saudi Arabia,” 2nd Edition, King Saud University Libraries Publication, Riyadh, Vol. 2, 1989.
- S. Collenette, “Wild Flowers of Saudi Arabia,” National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), Riyadh, 1999.
- S. A. Chaudhary and A. A. Al-Jawaid, “Vegetation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh, 1999.
- S. A. Chaudhary, “Flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Vascular Plants),” National Agriculture and Water Research Center, National Herbarium, Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh, 2001.
- D. R. Kaplan “The Science of Plant Morphology: Definition, History, and Role in Modern Biology,” American Journal of Botany, Vol. 88, No. 10, 2001, pp. 1711-1741. doi:10.2307/3558347
- L. Boulos, “Flora of Egypt,” Al-Hadara Publishing, Cairo, 1999.
- A. E. Radford, W. C. Dickison, J. R. Massey and C. R. Bell, “Vascular Plant Systematics,” Harper and Row, New York, 1974.
- V. Tackholm, “Students Flora of Egypt,” 2nd Edition, Cairo University, Giza, 1974.
- S. C. Tucker, “Floral Development in Legumes,” Plant Physiology, Vol. 131, No. 3, 2003, pp. 911-926. doi:10.1104/pp.102.017459
- H. A. Hosni and Z. A. R. El-Karemy, “Systematic Revision of Leguminosae in Egypt. 1. Tephrosia Pers.,” Sendtnera, Vol. 1, 1993, pp. 245-257.