Comparative Leaf Anatomy of Balkan Representatives of <i>Gentiana</i> L. Sect. <i>Ciminalis</i> (Adans.) Dum. (Gentianaceae): Implications for Species Delimitation.

ABSTRACT: The present study investigates the leaf anatomical traits of representatives of Gentiana section Ciminalis in the Balkan Peninsula, focusing on the ecologically and geographically vicariant species Gentiana acaulis, G. clusii, and G. dinarica. These species are distributed across a variety of mountainous habitats, including calcareous and siliceous rocky grounds, and exhibit pronounced morphological similarities that have led to misidentifications in the past. In order to address the challenges in species delimitation, a comparative analysis of leaf anatomical traits was performed on cross-sections of ten rosette leaves from each population. Statistical data analyses were conducted on 18 morphometric traits. A range of statistical techniques were used to

SUBMITTER: Mladenovic Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12526416 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature