SHOOT ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE JUNIPERUS POLYCARPOS C. KOCH IN FOOTHILL DAGESTAN

Identification of the species J. excelsa L. and J. polycarpos C. Koch is problematic and requires addition-al research. This article is devoted to the description and quantification of the anatomical features of the shoots of J. polycarpos, which grows in the conditions of Piedmont Dagestan to solve taxonomic issues. Methods Model shoots (1-3 year old) J. polycarpos was collected from the north side of the crowns at a level of 1.5 m from the ground to study the anatomical structure, fixing, preparing temporary microprepa-rations and describing the main structural elements of shoot tissues was carried out in accordance with generally accepted methods. Results. The anatomical structure of young shoots of J. polycarpos is de-scribed for the first time in order to identify taxon-specific and adaptive characters when studying the ana-tomical structure of the stem of J. excelsa and other populations of J. polycarpos. Their quantitative as-sessment is given, characteristic anatomical features are identified depending on the age and shape of the shoot. Conclusion The specific features of their morphology can be considered the presence of two types of shoots (two-bladed and three-bladed); anatomy - the presence in the parenchyma of leaf pillows in two-bladed shoots of a large number of stony cells, as well as structural features of the central cylinder; the presence and quantity of oil cells. Identified characters can be used for comparative anatomical identifica-tion of species of the genus Juniperus.