Anatomical Studies on Fruits and Petioles of 8 Species of Angelica L.from Sichuan Province

Sichuan is one of the two rich centers of Angelica L.in China,which is also one of the two distribution centers in the world.Fruits and petioles of 8 species of Angelica L.from Sichuan Province were dissected and observed with microscope.Studies on fruit anatomy of 8 species show that all of them are dorsal compressed,in most cases the valleculae of dorsal rib each has only one vitta and most concrescence may see two vittae,excluding some special species such as A.maowenensis and A.decursiva which have more than two vittae in their concrescences;Their aliform lateral rib may equal to or wider than the fruit itself but in some cases narrower;upper sides of endosperm are usually flat or slightly sunk and occasionally raise,while some are convex.These above-mentioned three characteristics of fruits,number of vitta,evolvement status of lateral rib and endosperm form,may serve as reference in interspecies relationship study.The anatomical characteristics of petioles are very diverse,include ring form,"Φ"-form and atactostele form.Such characteristics as figures of transverse section,the presence and shape of the groove on the adaxial side,smooth or undulate margin,the presence and shape of pith cavity,the number of vascular bundle and its pattern of distribution can be used as useful taxonomical evidences,for the stability and apparent diversity between different species.