Micromorphologies Of Seeds And Leaf Epidermis Of Berberidaceae And There Taxonomic Significance

Berberidaceae, morphological variation, well differentiated, and the classification of the genus and species is difficult. Phylogenetic position of Dysosma and Diphylliea has controversy, and merging problem of Berberis and Mahonia needs to further study. In this paper, the seeds and leaf epidermis morphology of berberidaceae were studied, combining with clustering analysis and morphological methods, aimed at providing certain theoretical basis for berberidaceae’s classification and evolution. The results as follows:1.Seeds shape of berberidaceae were diversity, ovoid, long ovoid to spherical,color, tawny, reddish brown to black. Ornamentation of seed coat was ascribed into four types as reticular(included 7 subtypes), reticular-scalariform, scalariform and ruminate.Seeds of Caulophyllum robustum were sphere and the hilum located on the side of seed near middle, which could be the typical characters distinguished from the other genera.Seed morphology supported the sister relastionship between Berberis and Mahonia, and we considered Dysosma was more original than Diphylleia.2.Stomata of berberidaceae were only found in lower epidermis, shapes were oval, nearly round. Except Mahonia stomata were atypical type of radiation, others were irregular type; The shapes of epidermal cells were irregular and polygonal,anticlinal walls from straight to sinuate. Most of them without trichomes, only Epimedium, B.salicaria, B.stenostachya and B.brachypoda were exceptions. Which can be used to study the evolution and phylogenetic relationship of berberidaceae.3.The results of clustering analysis about seed coat and leaf epidermis morphological characters didn’t support mergence of Berberis and Mahonia. The contribution of each trait principal component analysis was dispere, consistents with berberidaceae’s morphological variation phenomenon.In conclusion, berberidaceae’s morphology of seed and leaf epidermal support existing classification model, and it is important for identification and system evolution among genera and species.