Pollen morphology of Lathyrus (Leguminosae) taxa belonging to Lathyrus, Orobastrum and Cicercula sections from Turkey

The pollen morphology of 20 wild taxa belonging to Lathyrus (Syn: Eulathyrus), Orobastrum (Taub.) Boiss. and Cicercula (Medic.) Gren. & Godr. sections of Lathyrus L. grown in Turkey (L. rotundifolius Wild. subsp. miniatus (Bieb. ex Steven) P.H. Davis, L. grandiflorus Sibth. & Sm., L. saxatilis (Vent.) Vis., L. vinealis Boiss. & No?, L. inconspicuus L. var. inconspicuus, L. inconspicuus var. stenophyllus (Boiss.) Rech. f., L. tauricola P.H. Davis, L. woronowii Bornm., L. hierosolymitanus Boiss., L. cassius Boiss., L. gorgoni Parl. var. gorgoni, L. pseudo-cicera Pamp., L. sativus L., L. blepharicarpus Boiss., L. stenophyllus Boiss. & Heldr., L. belinensis Maxted & Goyder, L. phaselitanus Hub.-Mor. & P.H.Davis, L. chrysanthus Boiss., L. chloranthus Boiss., and L. trachycarpus (Boiss.) Boiss were examined by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in this study. The pollen grains were 3-zonocolporate, spheroidal, subprolate, and prolate (P/E?=?0.99–1.48) types, and were medium in size (equatorial view: rectangular or elliptical-obtuse-convex; polar view: circular, triangular and quinquangular-obtuse-convex). The smallest pollen grains belonged to L. tauricola (P?=?30.94/E?=?31.20) and the largest to L. grandiflorus (P?=?50.60/E?=?36.40). The ornamentation was reticulate and reticulate-granulate in the mesocolpium, and usually psilate in the apocolpium. Some photographs included in this work were taken using both LM and SEM.     

Karyological notes on another eight species of Achillea (Asteraceae) from Turkey

The chromosome number and morphology in eight species of the sections Ptarmica (Mill.) W. D. J. Koch, Anthemoideae (DC.) Heimerl, Arthrolepis Boiss., Santolinoideae (DC.) Heimerl and Achillea of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) were investigated using karyological techniques. Sample plants and seeds of A. biserrata M. Bieb., A. fraasii var. troiana Aschers. & Heimerl, A. multifida (DC.) Boiss., A. brachyphylla Boiss. & Hausskn., A. pseudaleppica Hub.-Mor., A. cretica L., A. latiloba Ledeb. ex Nordm., and A. kotschyi Boiss. subsp. kotschyi) were collected from natural habitats in 2003 and 2004. The chromosome number found in seven species was 2n = 18, while only A. kotschyi had 2n = 36. All chromosomes had median point (M), median region (m), and submedian (sm) centromers. In addition, only A. biserrata species had one subterminal (st) chromosome. An increase in asymmetry was not observed in the karyotypes of the species studied. None of the studied species had any B chromosomes.     

Cytotaxonomic investigations on some species of the genus Galium (Rubiaceae) from the Balkans

The results of a cytological and morphological investigation on the following species of the genus Galium L. collected in the Balkans are described and discussed: Sect. Platygalium Koch: G. rotundifolium L. and G. boreale L.; Sect. Aparinoides (Jord.) Gren.: G. palustre L.; Sect. Leiogalium Ledeb.: G. heldreichii Hal., G. lovcense Ur., G. album Mill. with the ssp. album, pycnotrichum (H.Br.) Krendl and prusense (C. Koch) Ehrend. et Krendl, G. lucidum All., G. corrudifolium Vill., G. scabrifolium (Boiss.) Hausskn., G. procurrens Ehrend., G. schultesii Vest, and G. bulgaricum Velen.; Sect. Kolgyda Dumort.: G. aparine L., G. intricatum Margot et Reut., G. parisiense L., G. divaricatum Pourr. ex Lam. and G. tenuissimum Bieb.     

Typification of five names in Paracaryum (DC.) Boiss. (Boraginaceae)

Five names in the genus Paracaryum (DC.) Boiss. are lectotypified here: P. calycinum Boiss. & Bal. (endemic to Turkey), P. lithospermifolium (Lam.) Grande subsp. cariense (Boiss.) R. Mill var. cariense, P. kurdistanicum (Brand) R. Mill (endemic to Turkey), P. sintenisii Hausskn. ex Bornm., and P. strictum (C. Koch) Boiss.     

Pollen morphology of Carthamus L. species in Anatolian flora

In flora of Turkey, there are six species of Carthamus L: Carthamus dentatus (Forssk.) Vahl., C. glaucus M. Bieb. subsp. glaucus, C. lanatus L., C. tenuis (Boiss. & Blanche) Bornm., C. persicus Desf. ex Willd. and C. tinctorius L. Within these species, C. tinctorius L. is an alien species for the Turkish flora. The pollen grains belonging to six taxa collected from different locations of Anatolia and examined both under light microscope (LM) and under scanning electron microscope (SEM). As a result of these examinations and measurements, pollen grains of taxa are radially symmetrical, isopolar, oblate-spheroid, spheroid, tricolporate rarely tetracolporate, echinate. There are high similarities among taxa but some differences are recorded in size and spin length. According to cluster analyses of Carthamus species’ pollens, C. glaucus and C. tenuis have the most similar pollens. C. dentatus grouped with these two. C. persicus placed as the closest relative of C. tinctorius in the dendrogram.     

Analysis of the fixed oils of the genus Nigella L. (Ranunculaceae) in Turkey

The fatty acid composition of fixed oils obtained from the seeds of 10 species of Nigella (Nigella orientalis L., Nigella oxypetala L., Nigella latisecta P.H. Davis, Nigella segetalis Bieb., Nigella arvensis L., Nigella damascena L., Nigella elata Boiss., Nigella nigellastrum (L.) Willk., Nigella unguicularis (Lam.) Spenner, and Nigella lancifolia Hub.-Mor.) from Turkey have been investigated. The seeds contained 17.6–41.3% fixed oils. Linoleic (31.21–69.5%) and oleic acids (15.79–36.03%) were the major fatty acids in the oils. Eicosenoic acid was found in high amounts in the oils of N. nigellastrum and N. unguicularis seeds (23.12 and 17.47%, respectively). N. nigellastrum, N. elata and N. unguicularis seed oils showed the highest concentration of eicosadienoic acid (9.40, 8.39 and 7.17%, respectively). In all fixed oils, the quantities of unsaturated fatty acids were higher than those of the saturated analogues.     

New natural hybrids of Convolvulus (Convolvulaceae) from Turkey

The present study introduces two new nothospecies from Turkey, Convolvulus×pseudocompactus C. Aykurt & Sümbül (C. oleifolius Desr. var. deserti Pamp.×C. compactus Boiss.) and Convolvulus×peshmenii C. Aykurt & Sümbül (C. holosericeus Bieb. subsp. macrocalycinus Hausskn. & Bornm.×C. compactus Boiss.). Morphological differences and similarities between the hybrids and their parents are discussed; in addition, habit and sepals are illustrated as diagnostic characters, and the geographic distribution of the hybrids and their parents are mapped. Pollen characteristics of Convolvulus×pseudocompactus, Convolvulus×peshmenii and their parents were examined by means of light microscopy and SEM. Detailed morphological and palynological investigations have been performed for hybrid individuals and parental species. As a result of the palynological investigations, the rate of dehydrated pollen grains was established as an important criterion to determine the hybrid status of Convolvulus taxa.     

An investigation of dye plants and their colourant substances in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Plants traditionally used to dye carpets and woven matting in the eastern Mediterranean region were investigated. The survey was carried out in Kadirli, Feke, Aladağ, the surrounding villages of Adana, and in Osmaniye (Turkey). According to the survey results, 37 species of plants belonging to 29 families were used in natural dye production. The total dye contents of collected plants ranged from 1.5% to 10.0%. Mordants and dyes obtained from some of these plants were used to treat wool yarn and the yarn's dyed properties were tested. Some of the plants were also examined in terms of cultivation and fifteen were transferred to a Dye Plants Collection Garden. They were Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. ssp. antitaurica Yalt., Arctium minus ssp. pubens (Bab.) Arènes, Chrysanthemum segetum L., Cistus creticus L., Cotinus coggygria Scop., Datisca cannabina L., Galium verum ssp. glabrescens Ehrend., Isatis tinctoria ssp. tomentella (Boiss. & Balansa) P.H.Davis, Melissa officinalis ssp. inodora Bornm., Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. ssp. longifolia , Reseda lutea var. lutea L., Rhamnus oleoides ssp. graecus (Boiss. & Reut.) Holmboe, Rhus coriaria L., Rubia tinctorum L., and Rumex patientia L.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 71–77.     

Pollen morphology of some endemic Turkish Centaurea L. (Asteraceae, section Phaloletis) and their taxonomic value

In this study, the detailed pollen morphological structures of some endemic Turkish species of Centaurea amaena Boiss., C. antalyense H. Duman & A. Duran, C. aphrodisea Boiss., C. hierapolitana Boiss., C. luschaniana Heimerl, C. lycia Boiss., C. tossiensis Freyn. Et Sint., and C. wagenitzii Hub.-Mor. (Asteraceae, section Phaloletis) were studied under light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the first time. LM and SEM investigations showed that the pollen grains of eight taxa are more or less spheroidal-subprolate, the amb triangular and tricolporate. The exine sculpture is tectate, microechinate-scabrate in the pollen of Centaurea taxa. Spinules are less dense in Centaurea amaena, C. antalyense, C. hierapolitana, and C. lycia, but they are more dense in C. aphrodisea, C. luschaniana, C. tossiensis, and C. wagenitzii. Spinule dimensions are different from each other. The exine has one layer of columellae beneath the spines. We determined all taxa that have the Helianthoid type. Exine sctructure and sculpture as well as spine density and dimensions in Asteraceae are the most reliable characteristics for discriminating taxa.     

Karyotype analysis of some Minuartia L. (Caryophyllaceae) taxa

Karyotypic characters, mitotic metaphase chromosomes, monoploid idiograms and karyograms of Minuartia anatolica (Boiss.) Woronow var. phrygia (Bornm.) McNeill, Minuartia anatolica (Boiss.) Woronow var. scleranthoides (Boiss. & Noe) McNeill, Minuartia corymbulosa (Boiss. & Balansa) McNeill var. gypsophilloides McNeill and Minuartia aksoyi M.Koç & Hamzao?lu were investigated for the first time. Analysis of somatic metaphases showed that the chromosome numbers and the formulas of these taxa were 2n = 24 = 14m + 6sm + 4st for Minuartia anatolica var. phrygia, 2n = 14 = 6m + 8sm for Minuartia anatolica var. scleranthoides, 2n = 14 = 6m + 4sm + 4st for Minuartia corymbulosa var. gypsophilloides and 2n = 30 = 14m + 10sm + 6st for Minuartia aksoyi. No satellites were observed in the karyotypes of these taxa. Karyotype asymmetry was estimated by many different methods, namely the Stebbins classification, the karyotype asymmetry index (As K %), the total form percent (TF %), the Rec and Syi indices, the intrachromosomal asymmetry index (A1) and interchromosomal asymmetry index (A2), the dispersion index (DI), the degree of asymmetry of karyotype (A index) and the asymmetry index (AI).     

Pollen morphology of some taxa of Vicia L. subgenus Vicia (Fabaceae) from Turkey

In this study, the pollen morphology of 11 taxa belonging to Atossa (Alef.) Asch. & Graebner, Hypechusa (Alef.) Asch. & Graebner, Peregrinae Kupicha, Wiggersia (Alef.) Maxted, Vicia L. and Narbonensis (Radzhi) Maxted sections of the genus Vicia L. subgenus Vicia (Fabeae, Fabaceae) naturally growing in Turkey has been studied using Light Microscopy (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the taxonomic relevance of pollen characters. Twelve morphometric characters are analysed with one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s honestly significant difference test for multiple comparisons. Of the taxa studied V. narbonensis var. narbonensis (sect. Narbonensis) has the largest pollen grains (P = 51.98 μm × E = 30.52 μm) and V. lathyroides (sect. Wiggersia) has the smallest pollen grains (P = 27.71 μm × E = 20.14 μm). The pollen grains are subprolate to perprolate (P/E = 1.16–2.11), but the prolate shape occurs in the majority of the taxa. The regular pollen grains of all taxa are trizonocolporate, isopolar, and released in monads. Ornamentation of the mesocolpium is psilate-perforate in V. lathyroides (sect. Wiggersia), reticulate-rugulate in V. narbonensis var. narbonensis (sect. Narbonensis), (micro)reticulate in V. sericocarpa var. sericocarpa (sect. Hypechusa), V. sativa subsp. sativa (sect. Vicia) and V. grandiflora var. grandiflora (sect. Vicia), and reticulate-perforate in the remaining taxa. The apocolpium and colpus area are psilate or perforate in all taxa except V. sericocarpa var. sericocarpa (sect. Hypechusa) and V. sativa subsp. sativa (sect. Vicia), which exhibit the obscurely reticulate-perforate pattern. Several palynological features have taxonomic importance in sectional level: polar axis, equatorial diameter, pollen shape (P/E ratio), colpus length, colpus width, size of pori, porus length/width ratio, lumina diameter, muri thickness and ornamentation. The results also indicate that pollen characters can be useful in distinguishing the examined taxa.     

The in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of some Verbascum species growing in Turkey

Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) species are used for desiccating wounds and as a fish poison in Anatolia as well as for diarrhea and dysentery of animals in several countries. To further evaluate their activity, methanolic extracts obtained from 13 Verbascum species growing in Turkey, including V. chionophyllum Hub.-Mor., V. cilicicum Boiss., V. dudleyanum (Hub.-Mor.) Hub.-Mor., V. lasianthum Boiss., V. latisepalum Hub.-Mor., V. mucronatum Lam., V. olympicum Boiss., V. pterocalycinum var. mutense Hub.-Mor., V. pycnostachyum Boiss. & Heldr., V. salviifolium Boiss., V. splendidum Boiss., V. stachydifolium Boiss. & Heldr. and V. uschackense (Murb.) Hub.-Mor. were evaluated for their in vivo anthelmintic activity. The extracts from V. lasianthum, V. latisepalum, V. mucronatum and V. salviifolum showed the highest inhibitory rates against Aspiculuris tetraptera at 100 mg/kg in mice. Additionally, extracts from V. dudleyanum and V. pterocalycinum var. mutense were found generally highly effective. The remaining species did not show any activity. Results of the present study support the utilization of these plant species employed in Turkish folk medicine.     

Chemical and principal-component analyses of the essential oils of Apioideae taxa (Apiaceae) from central Balkan

The volatile constituents of the essential oils of 23 taxa belonging to the Apioideae subfamily were studied in detail. The investigated taxa were Pimpinella serbica (Vis.) Bentham & Hooker, Libanotis montana Cr., Cnidium silaifolium (Jacq.) Simk. ssp. orientale (Boiss.) Tutin, Bupleurum praealtum L., B. sibthorpianum S. S. var. diversifolium (Roch.) Hay, Aegopodium podagraria L., Torilis anthriscus (L.) Gmel., Orlaya grandiflora (L.) Hoffm., Laserpitium siler L., Laser trilobum (L.) Brokh., Chaerophyllum aureum L., C. hirsutum L., C. temulum L., Pastinaca sativa L., P. hirsuta Pancic., Tordylium maximum L., Physospermum cornubiense (L.) DC., Peucedanum alsaticum L., P. oreoselinum (L.) Moench, P. cervaria (L.) Cuss., P. austriacum (Jacq.) Koch, P. longifolium W. et K., and P. officinale L. All of these species grow wild in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. The essential oils were found to be complex mixtures of various compounds, more than 100 constituents being in each taxon, with contributions of main products never exceeding 25% of the total content. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were found to be the main group of constituents of all taxa, except for Peucedanum species, where monoterpene hydrocarbons were identified as the main components. The chemotaxonomic value of the essential-oil composition is discussed according to results of principal-component analysis (PCA). The essential-oil composition mainly reflects current taxonomic relationships between the investigated taxa.     

Pollen morphology of some taxa of Vicia L. subgenus Vicilla (Schur) Rouy (Fabaceae) from Turkey

The pollen morphology of the ten taxa belonging to Cassubicae Radzhi, Cracca Dumort., Ervilia (Link) Koch, Lentopsis Kupicha, Trigonellopsis Rech. f. and Variegatae Radzhi sections of the genus Vicia L. subgenus Vicilla (Schur) Rouy (Fabeae, Fabaceae) in Turkey has been examined by use of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Twelve morphometric characters are analysed with one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s honestly significant difference test for multiple comparisons. Polar axis and equatorial diameter of pollen grains range from 24.64 to 44.19 and from 15.90 to 30.42 μm, respectively. The pollen grains are prolate–spheroidal to perprolate (P/E = 1.09–2.07), but the prolate shape occurs in the majority of the taxa. The regular pollen grains of all taxa are trizonocolporate, isopolar, and released in monads. Ornamentation of the mesocolpium is psilate–perforate in V. tenuifolia subsp. dalmatica and V. tenuifolia subsp. tenuifolia (sect. Cracca), reticulate–rugulate in V. villosa subsp. villosa (sect. Cracca), and reticulate–perforate in the remaining taxa. The apocolpium and colpus area are reticulate–perforate in V. hirsuta (sect. Cracca), V. ervilia (sect. Ervilia) and V. lunata subsp. grandiflora (sect. Trigonellopsis), and psilate, psilate–slightly perforate or perforate in the other taxa. The results obtained from analyses of pollen grains from the studied taxa of the subgenus Vicilla reveal significant differences in general morphology and some morphometric attributes, and ornamentation types. However, it is concluded that pollen morphology has proved to be uninformative for differentiating the subgenera Vicilla and Vicia.     

The morphological variation of some Crataegus populations (Rosaceae) in Greece and Yugoslavia

Morphological evidence of hybridization and introgression between Crataegus orien–talis Pallas ex M.–Bieb. and C. pycnoloba Boiss. & Heldr. in Boiss. was observed where the two species meet in the montane–subalpine zone of Mt Chelmos, Pelo–ponnisos. C. pycnoloba var. parnassica Diap. is a variant of C. orientalis. Greek and Yugoslavian material of C. monogyna Jacq., C. curvisepala Lindm. and their hybrid is compared with Danish material of the three taxa using the multivariate techniques of discriminant analysis and Wells' distance coefficient. The infraspecific variation of C. monogyna and the correct binary names for C. monogyna x orientalis ( C. x albanica Pojark. versus C. x polyacantha Jan) and C. curvisepala x monogyna (C. x kyrtostyla Fingerh.) are discussed.     

Phytogeographical significance of Wadi Wateer (Sinai), Egypt, with special reference to Cocculus hirsutus (L.) W.Theob.

The botanical survey of Wadi Wateer, located in the southeastern Sinai, revealed the presence of a plant that provides an important new record to the Flora of Egypt: Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Theob. This plant has not been recorded previously as existing in its wild form in the Flora of Egypt. The plant cover in Wadi Wateer is dominated by plant taxa belonging to the Saharo-Sindian phytogeographical element. However, many plants in the wadi have been attributed to the Sudanian chorotype, such as Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne subsp. raddiana (Savi) Brenan, Chrozophora brocchiana Vis., Lycium shawii Roem & Schult., Moricandia sinaica (Boiss.) Boiss., Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Theob. and Cocculus pendulus (J.R. & G. Forst.) Diels. The presence of Sudanian chorotype plant taxa [including the newly recorded Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Theob.] provides evidence that Wadi Wateer and Aqaba Gulf functioned as migratory tracks for these African plants, assisting their penetration into the Saharo-Sindian, Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian phytogeographical regions in the Sinai and Asia. This study suggests that Wadi Wateer should be declared a protected area for its habitat and climatic diversity as well as for its phytogeographical significance.     

Determination of morphological variation in subspecies of Isatis glauca Aucher ex Boiss. from Central Anatolia

Isatis glauca Aucher ex Boiss. has four subspecies: glauca, galatica Y?ld?r?ml?, sivasica (Davis) Y?ld?r?ml? and iconia (Boiss.) Davis, naturally growing in Turkey. In this study, 77 accessions from nine I. glauca ssp. populations were characterised in terms of variation in morphological characters, including the number of branches per plant, plant height, diameter of stem base, diameter of middle stem, diameter of apical stem, width and length of fruit, length of fruit stalk, fruit shape, fruit base shape, fruit apices shape, loculus, ondulation, apical process of fruit, fruit weight, basal length of fruit, apical length of fruit, wing width of fruit, loculus length, loculus width, length of seed, dorsal width of seed, lateral width of seed and seed weight. The number of branches had the highest value of coefficient of variation (CV), 0.21–0.86, while the fruit width had the lowest value of CV 0.08–0.20. According to Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyses, eco-geographical factors had a substantial effect on morphological variation. A principal component analysis explained 90.61 % of morphological variation through the study of five extracted components. A dendrogram, which was constructed according to the between-group linkages method, based on squared Euclidean distances, represented a hierarchical cluster analysis of 77 accessions. The results of the principal coordinate analysis, which showed differentiation according to morphological characters between nine populations, were consistent with the dendrogram. Consequently, morphological variation of I. glauca ssp. and the significant effects of eco-geographical factors on its morphological variation were discussed.