Morpho-anatomical studies on Bellevalia paradoxa Boiss. belonging to Liliaceae

This current study presents investigations on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of Bellevalia paradoxa Boiss., a very attractive geophyte growing in the eastern and northeastern Turkey. For morphological studies, a detailed description as well as a distribution map of B. paradoxa are given. The morphological features of the species are also compared to those reported in Flora of Turkey. For anatomical studies, tranverse sections of the roots, scapes and leaves, and surface sections of the leaves are studied for the first time. The results show that the plant has roots composed of 7 protoxylem arms and 3-4 large metaxylem, amphistomatic and equifacial leaves, 2-3-layered palisade parenchyma, three-layered leaf margins and anomocytic stomata. Raphide crystals in the leaves of B. paradoxa and their distribution were determined using a light microscope