The achene anatomy of some taxa of the genus Crepis L.

The tribe Cichorieae belonging to the family Asteraceae includes 100 genera in the world and it is represented by 35 genera in Turkey. One of the genera is Crepis L., including 42 taxa in Turkey. In the present study, achene anatomy of 8 taxa (C. amanica Babcock, C. bupleurilifolia (Boiss.) Freyn & Sint., C. dioritica Schott & Ky., C. frigida (Boiss. & Balansa) Babc., C. macropus Boiss. & Heldr., C. sahendi Boiss. & Buhse, C. stajonovii T. Georgiev, C. vesicaria L.) belonging to the genera were examined in detail. The plant materials used in this study were collected from several geographical regions in Turkey between the years of 2013-2014 in April-July. For anatomical examinations, transverse sections were obtained using microtome from mature achenes mounted with entellan in order to get permanent slides. Drawings made from permanent slides. Measurements of determined anatomical characters were made and the achenes anatomical features of taxa were compared. It has been found that number of achene ribs, width and thickness of pericarp, thickness of endosperm and seed coat, distribution of parenchyma and sclerenchyma cells and epicarpic structures are varying among the examined taxa. Furthermore, the same characters found important in terms of taxonomical aspect. Key Words: Achene, Anatomy, Crepis, Asteraceae, Cichorieae