Anatomical structure of vegetative organs of Prunella vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) in the Republic of Khakasia

Anatomical structure of adventitious roots, rhi-zomes, stems and leaves of flexible species of Prunella vulgaris L. (P. vulgaris) in different plant association of the Republic of Khakasia was stud-ied. The objective of the research was considera-tion of the anatomy of individuals’ long-rooted and racemose-rooted biomorphs in different ontogenetic states growing in various phytocoenosis. The geo-botanical descriptions of plant association were carried out by common methods. For preparation the slices were selected from 20-25 individuals in virginile (a vegetation phase) and in the mature generative (a flowering phase) the ontogenetic states from each phytocoenosis. The number of stomato on the sides of a leave determined accord-ing to the method of J.G. Molotkovsky. Transversal sections of adventitious roots of individuals of P. vulgaris were made at different levels of roots that allowed observing their primary and coronal struc-ture. The researches showed that the studied spe-cies which was a mesophyte had a typical structure of a root with primary cortex and the central cylin-der, however the individuals growing on bushy high-grass forest meadow in the conditions with more moisture, had lines of adaptation to habitat conditions in the form of well-developed aerenchy-ma in mesoderm of the primary cortex. At coronal structure of roots on a surface the periderm was formed, in the central cylinder being formed open collateral conductive bundles. In rhizomes of P. vulgaris in virginile and mature generative the onto-genetic states differences of anatomical structure were noted. In the rhizomes of the plants which were in a generative ontogenetic state increase the parenchymal cells and increase thickness of the primary cortex was revealed. These structural changes were connected, most likely, with strengthening of the stocking rhizome role by prep-aration of plants for winter dormancy. The compari-son of anatomical structure of rhizomes and the adventitious roots of P. vulgaris grown in different plant association, had led to the conclusion about the identity of their structure, which indicated the stability of underground organs to various external conditions. The stem individuals of P. vulgaris stud-ied ontogenetic states had a typical structure and no differences in various conditions of the exist-ence. The studying of anatomical structure of leaves testified to their considerable plasticity and dependence on the influence of various environ-mental factors that affected the structure of the mesophyll and the number of stomato.