Nutlet sculpturing of selected Teucrium species (Lamiaceae): A character of taxonomic significance

Abstract

Nutlet sculpturing of 23 Teucrium species belonging to six sections was studied. The nutlets of analysed species were characterized by the presence of the oil glands of various density. Section Teucrium is well defined by very densely distributed trichomes and oil glands on nutlets. Trichomes on nutlets were absent in all other species, except in T. marum from sect. Chamaedrys. Sect. Polium is a homogeneous group, distinguished from the other sections. There are some similarities of this sect. with sect. Scordium. Species of sect. Chamaedrys are heterogeneous and overlap according to the surface sculpturing characters with the other sections. The significance of nutlet microcharacters as additional taxonomical markers in the infrageneric classification of the genus Teucrium is discussed. © 1994 Springer-Verlag.