A new species of Ornithogalum (Liliaceae) from South Anatolia, Turkey

Ornithogalum chetikianum Uysal, Ertugrul & Dural sp. nov. (Liliaceae) is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on alpine steppe and stony places in Bozkır (C4 Konya province) in South Anatolia. It is closely related to O. nutans L. and O. demirizianum Malyer & M.Koyuncu, an endemic confined to South Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed. Notes are also presented on the ecology, biogeography and conservation status of the new species.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 501–504.     

Psephellus turcicus sp. nov. (Asteraceae), a new chasmophyte species from central Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Psephellus turcicus A.Duran & Hamzaoğlu (Asteraceae) in sect. Psephelloidei (Boiss.) Wagenitz & Hellwig is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on limestone crevices in Kazankaya Canyon (A5 Yozgat) in central Anatolia. A neo-endemic confined to Kazankaya Canyon, it is closely related to Psephellus psephelloides (Freny & Sint.) Wagenitz. Diagnostic morphological characters from closely similar taxa are discussed, and arranged in a key of Turkish similar Psephellus Cass. The ecology, biogeography and conservation status of the species are also presented. Achene surface morphology of P. turcicus and P. psephelloides are examined by SEM. The geographical distribution of the new species and other related species is mapped.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 495–500.     

A new species of Acantholimon Boiss. sect. Glumaria Boiss. (Plumbaginaceae) from Elazığ, Turkey

A new species, Acantholimon evrenii sp. nov. is described and illustrated for the first time in sect. Glumaria from Turkey. The species is confined to B7 Elazığ in East Anatolia where it grows on rocky mountain steppes. The diagnostic morphological characters from closely related species are given, along with a discussion dealing with its taxonomic relationship. Its conservation status is indicated. A revised key is also provided for the Acantholimon species with heterophyllous leaves, two or more flowered and four or more bracteated spikelets.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 351–356.     

Ferula mervynii (Apiaceae), a distinct new species from north-east Anatolia, Turkey

Ferula mervynii M. Sağıroğlu & H.Duman, sp. nov. from north-east Anatolia in Turkey (A8: Artvin & Erzurum) is described and illustrated. It is closely related to F. coskunii H.Duman & M.Sağıroğlu, from which it differs mainly in its habit, basal leaves, umbel, and mericarp features. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed. Notes are also presented on its ecology and conservation status, together with scanning electron micrographs of the surface of the mericarps and of a somatic metaphase plate showing the chromosome number.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 357–362.     

A new species of Arabis (Brassicaceae) from inner Anatolia

A new species of Arabis L., A. erikii Mutlu sp. nov. , is described and illustrated. The species is restricted to inner Anatolia, south-west of Sivas. It grows on steppes. Diagnostic morphological characters are given for discrimination from the most similar taxa.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 251–256.     

A new species of Scorzonera L. (Asteraceae) from south Anatolia, Turkey

A new species Scorzonera gokcheoglui O. Ünal & R. S. Göktürk sp. nov. from south Anatolia is described and illustrated. Its relationships with S. argyria and S. pisidica are discussed. A map showing the distribution of the species and other related species is given.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 142 , 465–468.     

A new species of Acantholimon Boiss. (Plumbaginaceae) from Turkey

A new species, Acantholimon avanosicum Dogan & Akaydin in the Plumbaginaceae is described and illustrated. The species grows on argillaceous slopes in Central Anatolia, Turkey. The diagnostic morphological characters that distinguish it from closely related taxa are discussed. A revised key to Acantholimon species in Turkey with densely distichous simple spikes is presented. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 138 , 365–368.     

A new species of Linum (Linaceae) from west Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Linum vuralianum Yılmaz & Kaynak, is described and illustrated from west Anatolia, Turkey. It is closest to L. flavum L., but differs by its annual or biennial life form, the presence of rosette leaves at anthesis, and the absence of staminodes. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) threat category and observations on the population are noted. The geographical distribution of the new species and its related taxon is given.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 459–462.     

A new species of Ferula (Apiaceae) from South Anatolia, Turkey

Ferula coskunii H. Duman & M. Sağıroğlu sp. nov. from the Amanos Mountains (C6: Hatay-Turkey) is described and illustrated. It is closely related to F. drudeana Korovin, from which it differs mainly in habit, basal leaves, stem and mericarp features.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 357–361.     

A new diploid Hieracium (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) from Bulgaria

Hieracium kittanae Vladimirov, a new diploid (2 n  = 18) species restricted to a few gorges in the Central Rhodope Mountains, south Bulgaria, is described and illustrated. It occurs in crevices of limestone rock in shady to sunny places with high atmospheric humidity. Morphologically, it to some extent resembles taxa from the H. glaucinum and H. schmidtii groups, but is otherwise very distinct, without close relatives in the Rhodope and neighbouring mountains.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003 , 143 , 213−218.     

Molecular taxonomy and phylogeography of Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), in the Eurasian transition

Miniopterus schreibersii is a polytypic bat species, with one of the widest distribution ranges among the mammals. We studied the genetic differentiation and taxonomy of this species in the transition zone between south-eastern Europe and Anatolia (in Asia), where two subspecies have been described. The results indicated a sharp genetic break between the samples from western Anatolia and south-eastern Europe and those of eastern Anatolia. In addition, the samples from western Anatolia and south-eastern Europe were seen to be reciprocally monophyletic, although the differentiation was less drastic. These patterns of genetic differentiation suggest the presence of two distinct groups within the M. schreibersii complex in the region, concordant with previous subspecific recognition. The cause of this genetic break is most likely differentiation in separate glacial refugia followed by secondary contact. However, more samples are needed to assess whether these represent different species, as well as to understand more clearly the causes of this differentiation.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 87 , 577–582.     

Muscari turcicum (Liliaceae/Hyacinthaceae), a new species from south Anatolia, Turkey

Muscari turcicum Uysal, Ertugrul & Dural (Liliaceae/Hyacinthaceae) is described and illustrated from south Anatolia, Turkey. This species grows on alpine steppe in the Middle Taurus (C4 Konya Province). Muscari turcicum , an endemic confined to the Middle Taurus, is closely related to M. discolor Boiss. & Hausskn. and M. anatolicum Cowley & Özhatay. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed and compared with those of closely related taxa.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 233–236.     

A new species of Centaurea L. (Cardueae: Asteraceae) from Turkey

A new species of Centaurea L., C. kizildaghensis (Cardueae: Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from south Anatolia. It is restricted to the serpentine rocky slopes of Kızıl Dağ (C3 Konya–Derebucak, Çamlık), and is closely related to C. pseudokotschyi Wagenitz and C. drabifolioides Hub.-Mor., from which it differs in stem, leaf, and phyllary appendage characters. The diagnostic morphological characters are discussed. A new key is produced for Group G species for the flora of Turkey.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 61–66.     

A new species of Oxalis section Corniculatae (Oxalidaceae) from the Balearic islands

A new species, Oxalis ferae Llorens, Gil & Cardona (Oxalidaceae) from the Balearic islands (Spain) is described and illustrated. It is considered to be endemic to Mallorca. The morphological differences between the more closely related taxa of Oxalis section Corniculatae are discussed. IUCN threatened category and observations on the ecology of the populations are noted.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 489–493.     

A new species of Halisaurus from the Late Cretaceous phosphates of Morocco, and the phylogenetical relationships of the Halisaurinae (Squamata: Mosasauridae)

A new species of the basal mosasaurid Halisaurus from the Late Cretaceous (Late Maastrichtian) of the Oulad Abdoun Phosphate Basin of Morocco is described on the basis of both cranial and postcranial remains. H. arambourgi sp. nov. is characterized by unique features of the nares, frontal, parietal, girdle and limb bones. A phylogenetical analysis supports the monophyletic status of Halisaurus ; H. platyspondylus (Maastrichtian, New Jersey), H. ortliebi (Maastrichtian, Belgium) and H. arambourgi form an unresolved polytomy. This study does not support the attribution of ' Halisaurus ' sternbergii (Santonian, Kansas) to Halisaurus nor to any known genus. A new genus, Eonatator , is proposed for the reception of this species, Eonatator sternbergii comb. nov. The new taxon Halisaurinae ( Halisaurus  +  Eonatator ) is the sister-group of more advanced mosasaurids (Natantia). Halisaurines are defined by the shape of the lateral premaxilla–maxilla suture; an oblique contact plane between the parietal and the supratemporal; a preaxial ridge present on the distal two-thirds of the radius length; and tibia and fibula long and slender with slightly expanded extremities.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 447–472.     

A new species of Orycteropodidae (Mammalia, Tubulidentata) in the Mio-Pliocene of northern Chad

A new species of fossil Tubulidentata has been found by the Mission Paléoanthropologique Franco-Tchadienne in Northern Chad. It is the first fossil Orycteropodidae (aardvark) from the Mio-Pliocene of Central Africa. The new taxon, Orycteropus abundulafus sp. nov. , is considered in the framework of the available Orycteropodidae fossil record. The Chadian specimen is characterized by the highest dental robustness index among all Tubulidentata, the presence of crests on the pterygoid, the triangular-shaped olecranon fossa and the reduction of the deltoid crest. All of these characters are linked to a less fossorial animal that had a tougher diet. This new African species is closer to the Eurasian O. gaudryi than to any other Tubulidentata. Together they form a clade distinct from that which includes O. afer . This is the first evidence of a relationship for aardvarks between Africa and Eurasia. An initial step is made towards revision of the phylogeny of the order.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 109–131.     

Three new species with two flowered spikelets in Acantholimon (Plumbaginaceae) from East Anatolia, Turkey

Three new species, Acantholimon bashkaleicum sp. nov. , Acantholimon artosense sp. nov. and Acantholimon hoshapicum sp. nov. (Plumbaginaceae) are described and illustrated. The species are all confined to B9/B10 Van Province in East Anatolia where they grow either on calcareous mountain slopes or on mountain steppes. Diagnostic morphological characteristics from the closely related species are given, along with a discussion dealing with their taxonomic relationships, and their conservation statuses are pointed out. A revised key to the Acantholimon species with heterophyllous leaves, two or more flowered and four or more bracteated spikelets is also provided.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 144 , 497–505.