Phytochemical and micromorphological traits of Geranium dalmaticum and G. macrorrhizum (Geraniaceae)

Abstract

A study of types and distribution of trichomes, pollen morphology, chemical composition of essential oil, and the content of macroelements and trace elements was conducted on endemic and previously uninvestigated Geranium dalmaticum (Beck) Rech. f. and widely distributed G. macrorrhizum L. growing in Croatia. The essential oil of G. dalmaticum was characterized by a high concentration of monoterpenes (82.2%) and the oil of G. macrorrhizum by mainly sesquiterpenes (76.7%). Among the investigated macroelements, the content of Ca was the highest (19,125.6 mg/kg and 22,439.6 mg/kg in G. dalmaticum and G. macrorrhizum, respectively). The content of trace elements ranged from 0.16 (Cr) to 110.01 mg/kg (Al) in G. dalmaticum, and from 0.01 (Cd) to 101.8 mg/kg (Al) in G. macrorrhizum. Non-glandular trichomes and two (in G. dalmaticum three) types of capitate glandular trichomes (type 1 composed of one basal epidermal cell, and one head cell with subcuticular space; type 2 composed of one basal epidermal cell, one or two stalk cells, and one head cell with subcuticular space; type 3 composed of one basal epidermal cell, 2-6 stalk cells, and one head cell with subcuticular space) were observed on leaves, stems and calyxes.