Article

Physical properties of seeds from seven Moroccan Stachys species: Comparative morphology and seed-trait variation

Authors:
Akhrif I.
,
Ismaili S.E.
,
Maurady A.
,
Britel M.R.
,
Homrani Bakali A.
Publication: Flora Mediterranea
Pages: 139-156
Keywords:

Lamiaceae, endemic species, morphology, Morocco

Article history:
  1. Received

  2. (last) revision received

  3. Accepted

  4. Published online

Abstract

This study examines the physical properties of seeds from seven species of Stachys (S. arenaria, S. circinata, S. fontqueri, S. germanica, S. officinalis, S. saxicola, and S. mouretii) to assess their morphological diversity and potential applications. Measurements included seed dimensions, derived geometric parameters, density, porosity, moisture content, and thousand-seed mass. Results revealed significant variation across taxa. S. germanica had the largest seeds, the highest bulk density (601.77 kg m−3), a high true density (991.95 kg m−3), and the lowest porosity (38.78%), while S. officinalis showed the highest moisture content (13.81%) and a notably low aspect ratio (0.56). These findings provide quantitative seed-morphological data useful for species comparison, seed handling, and future integrative studies.

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