Taxonomic evidences from leaf, fruit and cuticular structure for identifying pistacia species in kurdistan region of Iraq

Abstract EN

Leaf and fruit morphological characters in addition to leaf cuticular structure belonging to Pistacia species were examined to provide useful characters in distinguishing the species and refine taxonomic relationship.

Characters of leaf apex, leaf base, leaf length/leaf width constitute useful taxonomic application.

Number of drupes/cluster, fruit size, shape and color, Endocarp (shell) color, Kernel pulp shape and color, Testa color, are very useful diagnostic characters for identifying species.

Stomata of P.

vera, P.

eurycarpa, and P.

khinjuk are amphistomatic, with much less density on the abaxial epidermal layer of P.

khinjuk.

The average stomatal size of the abaxial layer is always larger than the adaxial, while the average adaxial epidermal cell sizes are significantly larger than the abaxial epidermal cell sizes.

The clivate multi-cellular trichomes are only present in P.

eurycarpa.