Endophytic evidence in Helleborus L. (Ranunculaceae)

Abstract

The results of a morphoanatomical study carried out on various organs of Helleborous bocconei subsp. intermedius, an endemic to South Italy and Sicily, which roots are traditionally used to treat pulmonary diseases of cattle. S.E.M. observations have shown diffuse fungal structures in the internal organs, perhaps spreading out on the exterior of the plant. The endophyte, which will be studied in detail in future, has been temporarly referred to Botrytis sp. Such study, extended for verification also to H. lividus subsp. corsicus, endemic to Corsica, has shown anal ogous fungin structures, confirming thus in another species of Helleborus the same endophytic manifestations observed in H. bocconei subsp. intermedius. Such evidence, contextually veri fied on two isolated taxa of Helleborus and even on other findings of congeneric species belonging to Palermo’s Botanical Garden, lead the authors into extending this endophytic rela tion to the whole genus, which unpublished in Helleborus, was already known for Ranunculaceae, since already observed in Ranunculus bulbosus