Anatomical and Adaptation Features of <i>Pistacia atlantica</i> Desf. to Adverse Climate Conditions in Algeria

Abstract

This work was conducted to assess the anatomical features of Pistacia atlantica Desf. under Mediterranean semi-arid climate conditions. In this study, phytoecological approach was used at different observation scales including the large ecological scale. 11 samples of P. atlantica species were randomly selected in order to study the anatomy of leaves and branches. The results show that leaves have palisad e parenchyma occup ying almost the entire mesophyll, measuring 100 to 170 μm. While in branches, the only pith occupies 38% followed by the xylem (24%), relative to the rest of the tissue (epidermis, periderm, collenchyma, pericyclic fiber, secretory duct and phloem). The current results suggest that P. atlantica species ha s xeromorphic anatomical characters, giving it great ecological plasticity in an arid environment. Moreover, this study shows that the human activities are causing local extinction of this rare species in Algeria.