Systematic implications of seed morphology in Oxytropis (Galegeae: Fabaceae) from Pakistan

Authors

• AMJAD KHANFollow
• AMIR SULTANFollow
• RAEES KHANFollow
• ROZINA ROZINAFollow
• SHAHAB ALIFollow
• ALI BAGHERIFollow
• RIFAT ULLAH KHANFollow
• ABDUL SAMAD MUMTAZFollow
• TARIQ ULLAHFollow
• GHALIA SALEEM ALJEDDANIFollow
• HASIL KHANFollow

Abstract

Oxytropis is a taxonomically challenging genus within the tribe Galegeae of the family Fabaceae. Despite its systematic importance, the seed morphology of Oxytropis has been poorly investigated. In the present study, we examined the seed morphology of 18 Oxytropis species representing 10 sections from the Pakistan, with the aim of evaluating the diagnostic value of seed traits using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The current investigation revealed two distinct seed shapes, namely cordiform and prolonged reniform, across the studied taxa. Seed length ranged from 1.75 mm in O. crassiuscula to 2.3 mm in O. duthieana, while seed width varied from 1.64 mm in O. mandokhailii to 2.13 mm in O. densa. Six distinct seed coat patterns were identified: microrugulate, rugulate, microreticulate, reticulate, lophate–reticulate and lophate–stellate. The observed seed morphological traits are largely consistent with those reported in previous studies and demonstrate potential taxonomic value. The results of PCA and UPGMA analyses suggest that seed traits can aid in clarifying species assemblages within Oxytropis and serve as a foundation for future systematic and phylogenetic studies.

Author ORCID Identifier

AMJAD KHAN: 0000-0002-5337-7237

AMIR SULTAN: 0000-0003-2116-9502

RAEES KHAN: 0000-0003-1388-7141

ROZINA ROZINA: 0000-0001-5003-2017

SHAHAB ALI: 0000-0003-4258-7981

ALI BAGHERI: 0000-0002-2580-9776

RIFAT KHAN: 0000-0002-6887-3487

ABDUL MUMTAZ: 0000-0002-7034-9203

TARIQ ULLAH: 0000-0002-2286-6759

GHALIAHASIL ALJEDDANIKHAN: 0009-0004-0086-0091

DOI

10.55730/1300-008X.2910

Keywords

Oxytropis, seed morphology, Pakistan, scanning electron microscopy, taxonomy

First Page

350

Last Page

366

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

KHAN, A, SULTAN, A, KHAN, R, ROZINA, R, ALI, S, BAGHERI, A, KHAN, R. U, MUMTAZ, A. S, ULLAH, T, ALJEDDANI, G. S, & KHAN, H (2026). Systematic implications of seed morphology in Oxytropis (Galegeae: Fabaceae) from Pakistan. Turkish Journal of Botany 50 (4): 350-366. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-008X.2910