MICROMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF 7 SPECIES OF TGHE GENUS MEDICAGO L (FABACEAE) FROM PAKISTAN

Using Scanning Electron Microscope a micromorphological study of leaf and seed coat surfaces of all the 7 species in the genus Medicago L., from Pakistan was carried out. The seed coat sculpturing revealed 3 ma in surface patterns viz., verrucate, papillate and rumeniate-rugose. L eaf epidermis was found to be covered with waxy material in all taxa, exhibiting verrucate to colliculate pattern with irregular arrangement of cells. Leaf trichomes are unicellular with granulate surfaces. A k ey based on micromorphological characters observed has been proposed t o identify the species.