2001 Debussche and Thompson 2003 Rajakurna 2004). Research focusing on endemism usually includes comparisons with the closest relative, including aspects such as ecological differentiation or adaptation to a novel habitat (McKay et al. There are different types of endemic classifications depending on the age, distribution or cytogenetic features (Kruckeberg and Rabinowitz 1985).

Some of the important factors that limit (define) endemic distribution are: climate, geology, ecology, isolation and the historical aspects of the flora (Kruckeberg and Rabinowitz 1985 Stace 1993 Debussche and Thompson 2003 Mirek and Piękoś-Mirkowa 2009). de Candolle (Kruckeberg and Rabinowitz 1985). The history of endemism began with the first voyages and flora descriptions contained in the works of the first modern botanists such as Linnaeus or A. Some places such as mountains or islands are rich in endemic plants compared with boreal or arctic regions, which are relatively poor in them. They are distributed unevenly and are usually connected with environments that provide some isolation or constraints on the neighboring areas (Stebbins 1980). calcigena presents a low position as an independent taxonomic unit and may exemplify a local phenotypic form.Įndemic plants can be found all over the world, and they define the identity and uniqueness of the local flora. Based on the results we can state that A. Although some differences between the studied taxa exist (e.g., better germination power, number of flower heads, length of pedicels and anatomy), they are rather a manifestation of phenotypic plasticity and habitat influence than the taxonomic identity. These features include a continuous periderm layer and lignified pith cells developed in the early stages of growth. The obtained results show some typical xeromorphic features in the stem and leaf structure, which are more strongly pronounced in A. The seed coat consists of proper epidermal cells and slime cells, whose presence is related to the ability to form slime in both taxa. The pollen grain surface is typical for the whole Artemisia genus. The studies comprise descriptions of the characteristics of pollen grains and the achene surface, analyses of seed germination rate and slime formation, stem anatomy, and leaf morphology and anatomy.

calcigena, endemic to the Pieniny Mountains (Western Carpathians). the typical variety Artemisia absinthium var. The presented studies are focused on the comparative morphological and anatomical analyses of two wormwood varieties, i.e.

Artemisia Absinthium by Caro Panero