LAUSR

The taxonomic importance of macromorphological and micromorphological seed characteristics was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of 10 species of the Salvia genus from Pakistan. The aim of this study is to identify diagnostic seed ultrastructural features that could aid in species delimitation, proper identification, and phylogenetic position. The ultrastructure of Salvia species varies greatly, and a wide range of unique micromorphological features have been observed. Seed micromorphological features were explored by SEM, including seed shape, color, texture, cell outline, surface sculpturing, epidermal cell arrangement, anticlinal, and periclinal wall pattern. In most of the taxa analyzed, seed form, size, and surface sculpturing can be used further to differentiate species. The shapes of the seeds were categorized as obovate, spherical, spheroid, broadly elliptic, elliptic, and oblong, mostly with terminal hilum. Observed seed colors were black, light brown, dark brown, brown, and yellow. Exo morphological characters, i.e. epidermal cell arrangement such as irregular, wavy pentagonal -hexagonal, regular pentagonal -hexagonal were observed. Cluster analysis was used to mention the similarity and distinct species within the genus Salvia with a feasible explanation. Taxonomic keys have been made based on micromorphological qualitative features that help to delimit species and identify them quickly within the Salvia genus. The seed morphology of 10 Salvia species was described and investigated, and the diagnostic significance of this feature was evaluated using SEM. This study analyzed seed features, especially at the species level, which might provide a lot of taxonomic information. The results revealed that in seed morphology, using SEM could help with taxon identification, especially at the genus and species levels.