Taxonomical features of stigmas of tribe Lithospermeae DC. (Boraginaceae) species in Asiatic Russia

With the help of scanning electron microscopy, morphology of stigmas and shapes of papillae were studied for 11 species (from Asiatic Russia) of genera Lithospermum L., Buglossoides Moench, Cerinthe L., Echium L., and Onosma L., belonging to tribe Lithospermeae, and two species of the genus Botriospermum Bunge of unknown taxonomical affiliation in the family Boraginaceae. It was revealed that the shapes of the stigma and papillae can be useful for clarifying relationships among the species and genera, thus complementing the data for compiling a fuller and more correct taxonomy of the family Boraginaceae