Muhittin Dinç

Anatomy, palynology and nutlet micromorphology of Turkish endemic Teucrium sandrasicum (Lamiaceae)

In this study, the anatomical features of the leaf and stem, besides the pollen and nutlet characteristics of Teucrium sandrasicum are investigated. T. sandrasicum, belonging to sect. Teucrium, is an endemic perennial herb growing on serpentine around Muğla province. The anatomical studies on T. sandrasicum revealed that the stem shares the general characteristics of the Labiatae family. The leaves clearly exhibit xeromorphy due to features such as the distribution of stomata on the lower surface (hipostomatic), the occurrence of guard cells below the epidermis (xeromorphic type), inrolled margins, thick cuticle layer, thick outer epidermal cell wall, a high density of trichomes and thick palisade layer of the mesophyll. The anatomical studies showed that the upper epidermal cells of the leaf include many spherocrystals. The pollen grains are prolate, medium in size, 3-colpate with verrucate ornamentation. The nutlets are ellipsoid with a reticulate-verrucate surface. The results have proven that T. sandrasicum is different from the other species of the sect. Teucrium because of the branched trichomes on the stem and the lack of eglandular trichomes on the nutlets.

Anatomical and micromorphological studies on Teucrium sect. Isotriodon (Lamiaceae) in Turkey with a taxonomic note

In this study, the anatomical features of the leaf and stem, besides the nutlet characteristics of some Teucrium sect. Isotriodon (Lamiaceae) taxa in Turkey, T. montbretii Betham subsp. montbretii, T. montbretii subsp. pamphylicum P. H. Davis, T. odontites Boiss. & Bal., T. cavernarum P. H. Davis, T. antitauricum T. Ekim, along with an isolated population of T. montbretii (T. montbretii subsp.) were investigated. The anatomical studies revealed that the taxa share generally similar anatomical characters, such as thicker upper leaf cuticles and larger upper leaf epidermal cells compared to lower ones and diacytic to anomocytic stomata on the leaves. However, the portion of the mesophyll occupied by palisade parenchyma and the occurrence of mucilage cells in leaf epidermis shows difference among the taxa. Furthermore, the studied taxa have general stem characteristics of the Lamiaceae family, except for having poorly developed collenchyma at the corners. With the amphistomatic leaves and developed sclerenchymatic tissue in the leaf median vein, T. cavernarum is seperated from the other taxa. Trichome types on the vegetative organs and nutlet shape and sculpturing are generally the same or similar in the studied taxa, but trichomes on the nutlets are different among them. Based on nutlet characteristics and some morphological ones, it was revealed that the isolated population of T. montbretii represent a new subspecies, T. monbretii subsp. yildirimlii M.Dinç & S.Doğu subsp. nov.

Anatomical and nutlet differentiation between Teucrium montanum and T. polium from Turkey

Teucrium montanum L. and T. polium L. are the two closest Teucrium L. species from sect. Polium (Mill.) Schreb in Turkey. In addition, they are sympatric for some part of their range in Turkey. In this study, comparative anatomical and micromorphological studies of the two species are carried out. They have been investigated by their leaf and stem anatomical features, as well as nutlet micromorphological characteristics. The results of anatomical studies show that the anatomical characters of both taxa are observed to be similar to the general features of the family Lamiaceae anatomy, except for lacking rich collenchyma at the corners. Both taxa are similar in stem anatomy and their leaves exhibit xeromorphy. However, trichome morphology on the stems and the leaves appear to have a taxonomic value in segregation of the two taxa. Light and scanning electron microscope studies on the nutlets also show that nutlet shapes, measures and surface micromorphologies are different in the two species. Whereas nutlet surfaces are bireticulate in both species, the nutlets are larger and primary sculpturing is more distinct in T. polium than in T. montanum. Moreover, the nutlets are oblong to oblong-ovoid and larger in T. polium, but ovoid and smaller in T. montanum.

A new subspecies of Centaurea cassia (Asteraceae) from Turkey

A new subspecies in sect. Jacea (Mill.) DC., Centaurea cassia Boiss. subsp. dumanii M. Dinç, A. Duran & B. Bilgili subsp. nov., collected by the authors from South Anatolia, is described and illustrated. The new subspecies is restricted to Abies cilicica (Ant. & Kotschy) Carr. subsp. cilicica forest above Göller Yaylası (C6 Adana-Kozan). Diagnostic morphological characters from C. cassia subsp. cassia are discussed. The ecology, biogeography and conservation status of the new taxon are also presented.

A New Species of Draba (Brassicaceae) from North Anatolia, Turkey

ABSTRACT Draba anatolica A. Duran & Dinç, a new species of Brassicaceae collected from Kastamonu province in North Anatolia, Turkey, is described and illustrated. The species grows on rocky crevices and stony slopes in Ilgaz Mountain National Park. It is related to D. siliquosa M. Bieberstein, from which it mainly differs in its densely stellate-pubescent fruit, the 10- to 20-flowered inflorescence, the stellate-pubescent stems with five to eight leaves, the petals 4.5–5 mm long and sparsely stellate-pubescent externally, and the pubescent, 8–10 mm, fruiting pedicel. The ecology, biogeography, and conservation status of the species are discussed. Fruit and seed coat surface micromorphology of D. anatolica are examined by SEM, and the chromosome number and morphology are determined, with 2n = 16.

Rediscovery of the poorly known Scorzonera argyria and its relationships in Turkey

Scorzonera argyria Boiss. has been a poorly known endemic species classified within DD category of IUCN. It has not been collected since its introduction to the scientific community in 1843. Scorzonera argyria in the Turkish flora might be considered to be a synonymy of S. eriophora. Based on the specimens collected from the type locality environs, Scorzonera argyria’s detailed morphological, karyological and palynological descriptions are presented. Its two allies, S. eriophora DC. and S. pisidica Hub.-Mor., are morphologically and palynologically studied and compared to Scorzonera argyria. After the comparison conducted in the present study, S. argyria is clearly determined to be a distinct species. Consequently, in addition to some vegetative characters S. argyrea basically differs from the allied species by its typical achenes. S. argyrea and the two allied species are generally palynologically similar, but minor differences exist between them on account of their spine shapes and micro-ornamentations observed under scanning electron microscopy. The habitat S. argyrea and its typically associated species are briefly discussed. Additional data on the ecology and the conservation status of S. argyria are also given.

Composition of the essential oil of Stachys sericantha, S. gaziantepensis, and S. mardinensis (Lamiaceae) from Turkey

ABSTRACT The genus Stachys L. one of the largest genera of Lamiaceae and Stachys species are used by many people for the therapeutic value of their essential oils. In this study, water-distilled essential oil of three species of Stachys was analysed. The analysis was performed by using gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) systems simultaneously. The major components found were hexadecanoic acid (23.7%), dodecanoic acid (11.3%), and caryophyllene oxide (10.7%) for S. sericantha P.H. Davis (endemic); α-pinene (53%), β-pinene (8.2%) for S. gaziantepensis M. Dinc and S. Doğu (endemic); Menthyl acetate (15.3%), isomenthone (15.0%), pulegone (10%), spathulenol (7.0%), and caryophyllene oxide (6.7%) for S. mardinensis (Post) R. Mill.

Stachys gaziantepensis (Lamiaceae), a New Species from South Anatolia, Turkey

Stachysgaziantepensis species nova is described and illustrated. It exhibits general features of the section Infrarosularis. However, it differs from the other species of the section from Turkey by its slender appearance. In addition, while the other species of the section grow on limestone or serpentine rocks, the new species grows on marble rocks. Diagnostic characters of S.gaziantepensis from sect. Infrarosularis species, especially from its closest relative S. pumila and S. choruhensis with extreme distribution, are discussed. In addition to its more slender appearance, it differs from S. pumila by its indumentum, leaf shape, inflorescence, calyx size and shape, corolla size and colour; from S. choruhensis by its indumentum, stem ramification, leaf shape, inflorescence and corolla colour according to the observations. The accompanying taxa within its habitat are given. The conservation status of the new species is also evaluated based on population density and possible threats within presently known locality.

Comparative morphological and palynological study on poorly known Viola sandrasea and its closest relative V. kizildaghensis.

The relationships between the closely related Turkish endemic species, Viola sandrasea Melchior and V. kizildaghensis M. Dinç & Ş. Yıldırımlı, are discussed in the present study. Viola sandrasea has been known only from a few gatherings and insufficient description since 1939. Morphological and palynological properties of it are determined in detail and compared to its closest relative V. kizildaghensis in this study. The special habitats these species occupy, their typical associates and some other ecological features are also briefly discussed. The obtained data suggests that the morphological differences between them are sometimes subtle, but the petal colour, the leaf wrinkles and the pattern of indument are distinct. The pollen characteristics clearly appear to have taxonomic value. The pollen exine ornemantion of V. sandrasea characterized by the rugulate clearly differs from that of V. kizildaghensis characterized by psilate-perforate. Moreover, the two species are seasonally and geographically isolated from each other.

Compositions of essential oils of Salvia adenophylla, Salvia pilifera, and Salvia viscosa in Turkey

Abstract In the Anatolia folk medicine, Salvia species are used by many people in various villages and towns for the therapeutic value of their essential oils. In this study, water-distilled essential oil of three species of Salvia (Lamiaceae) was analyzed. The analysis was performed using a gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry systems, simultaneously. The major components were found as α-pinene (16.2%) and β-pinene (14.4%) for Salvia adenophylla Hedge & Hub-Mor. (endemic); β-pinene (24.9%), myrcene (9.0%), and α-humulene (7.9%) for Salvia pilifera Montbret et Aucher ex Bentham (endemic); α-copaene (13.0%), β-caryophyllene (10.8%), γ-muurolene (9.8%), δ-cadinene, and caryophyllene oxide (8.0%) for Salvia viscosa Jacq.