Palynological characters of Glycyrrhiza, Glycyrrhizopsis, and Meristotropis (Leguminosae), with special reference to their taxonomic significance

Abstract

The pollen morphology of 11 species of the genus Glycyrrhiza L. with one from each of the genera Glycyrrhizopsis Boiss. & Bal. and Meristotropis Fisch. & C. A. Mey. was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. In pollen morphology, the main differences between Glycyrrhizopsis and Glycyrrhiza are: Glycyrrhizopsis-pollen grains 36.63 × 40.42 μm in size, oblate spheroidal in shape; and Glycyrrhiza-pollen grains 24.47-33.18 × 23.82-31.83 μm in size, prolate spheroidal in shape. Glycyrrhizopsis and Glycyrrhiza should be recognized as two distinct genera based on palynological and morphological characters. Meristotropis and Glycyrrhiza are similar in many important palynological and morphological characters, suggesting that the two should be merged. In Glycyrrhiza, two types of pollen grains, 3-lobed-circular or subtriangular in polar view, are found in different species, in accordance with morphological differences in the two groups, shedding light on the classification and evolution of the genus.

Species delimitation of the liquorice tribe (Leguminosae: Glycyrrhizeae) based on phylogenomic and machine learning analyses

“…However, by examining plenty of G. flavescens specimens, we argued that the morphological variation range of G. syriaca fits into that of G. flavescens . In addition, the distribution of the former well embedded within that of the latter (Meng, 2005). We therefore treated G. syriaca as a synonym of G. flavescens , consistent with Çetin (2015), but its status needs to be further verified with field work and molecular phylogenetic evidence.…”

“…This species is sister to a clade comprised of five other species (Fig. 2), G. echinata , G. macedonica , G. pallidiflora , G. squamulose , and G. yunnanensis , which occur in the temperate Old World (Kruganova, 1955; Meng, 2005). The isolated geographic distribution of G. acanthocarpa in Australia and distinct phylogenetic position lends support to this species, which is also accepted by all other major treatments (see Table 1).…”

“…2). Glycyrrhiza squamulosa is morphologically recognizable by having unique globose/reniform, tuberculate pods (Meng, 2005; Bao & Larsen, 2010). We therefore agreed with previous taxonomic treatments (Table 1) that it merits species status.…”

Chemical composition, antifungal and antibiofilm activities of essential oils from Glycyrrhiza foetida (Desf.) growing in Tunisia

“…Owing to its effective inhibition of SARS‐CoV‐2 protease, this saponin constitutes a target of a deep investigation as a possible antiviral agent for the treatment of COVID‐19 (Usmanghani, 1997). Glycyrrhiza foetida (Figure 1) is widespread throughout North Africa—Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia—and southwestern Europe (Meng, 2005; Panche et al, 2016; Van de Sand et al, 2021). In western Morocco (Gharb), G. foetida , commonly known as “Guenfdo”, is traditionally used by farmers as a sweetener and to treat hepatic disorders (Kruganova, 1955).…”

The complete chloroplast genomes of rare medical herb Glycyrrhiza inflata and its relative G. aspera (Fabaceae)

“…Glycyrrhiza inflata , distributed in NW China and Mongolia (Yakovlev 2003 ; Bao and Larsen 2010 ), has been listed as a rare and endangered plant in the category of key protected wild plants in China ( http://www.iplant.cn/rep/prot/Glycyrrhiza%20inflata ). Glycyrrhiza aspera is a relative species of G. inflata , ranging from northern China to Turkey (Chamberlain 1970 ; Meng 2005 ). A good knowledge in genomic information of these liquorice species would contribute to the study of population genetics, diversity, medical use and the establishment of efficient protection strategy towards the endangered natural resource.…”