Comparative study on the anatomical leaf structure of five wild peony species.

The anatomical leaf structures of five wild peony species were studied by the method of educts and paraffin sectioning.The results show that the leaf structure of five species is bifacial leaf,and consisted of epidermis,mesophyll and vein from outer to inner;epidermis cells arranged by a layer of square or rectangular close cells,and covered by cuticle,the stomata were anomocytic and existed on the abaxial epidermis in all the species examined.The adaxial epidermis cells were usually irregular or polygonal in shape with anticlinal walls straight,repand,or sinuous.The palisade tissue and spongy tissue vary with the species;there are discrepancie in the midvien and parenchyma of its periphery.The shapes of epidermis have three types.Structural characteristics of the leaves show the category of the five wild species belong to mesophtes,and they provide enriched evidence in distinguish different populations and in breeding.