Morphological, anatomical, cytological and palinological investigations on Ancyrensis, Sieheanus, Chrysanthus and Flavus species and subspecies of the genus Crocus L.

In this study, Crocus ancyrensis (Herbert) Maw, Crocus sieheanus Barr ex Burtt, Crocus chrysanthus (Herbert) Herbert, Crocus flavus Weston subsp. flavus and Crocus flavus subsp. dissectus T. Baytop&Mathew taxa were investigated in a detailed way in the point of morphological, anatomical, citological and palinological topics. According to morphological results, lack of described peculiarities in `Flora of Turkey? (Mathew, 1984) were determined and differencies between taxa were become evident. However, seed morphology of taxa were investigated with light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Samples as regards Crocus chrysanthus (Herbert) Herbert were examined under 3 groups because of morphological differencies related to their anthers (samples with yellow anthers, grey-black lobed anthers, grey-black lined anthers). All the morphological and anatomical investigations related to leaf anatomy, cytological and palinological observations were carried out on these 3 groups, also. Studies regarding leaf anatomy were made on fixed preparations. Peculiarities of stoma, palisade and spongy parenchyma were examined. Mitosis preparations were investigated in cytological researches. As a result, chromosome number and morphologies related to taxa were made and examined. Furthermore, karyograms of the taxa were made and examined in a detailed manner. According to cytological results, chromosome number of Crocus ancyrensis (Herbert) Maw which was given as 2n=10 in literature, was found as 2n=12+1b. Chromosome number of Crocus sieheanus Barr ex Burtt was found as 2n=16 which was suitable for literature. On the other hand, it was found that chromosome number of Crocus chrysanthus (Herbert) Herbert samples with yellow anthers was 2n=8, chromosome number of samples with grey-black lobed anthers was 2n=12 and chromosome number of samples with grey-black lined anthers was 2n=20+2b. Chromosome number of Crocus flavus Weston subsp. flavus and Crocus flavus subsp. dissectus T. Baytop&Mathew which were appropriate literature was found as 2n=8. However, differencies related to chromosome morphologies were observed clearly. Palinological investigations were made with light microscope and scanning electron microscope otherwise appropriate samples were photographed. Pollen shape of Crocus ancyrensis (Herbert) Maw was determined as spheroidal and other taxa were found as prolatespheroidal. Pollen ornamentation of taxa was observed as scabrate. On the other hand, differencies of ornamentation between taxa especially samples of Crocus chrysanthus (Herbert) Herbert were determined that it was related to pollens? reticulate structure and distribution of spinules. Keywords: Crocus ancyrensis (Herbert) Maw, Crocus sieheanus Barr ex Burtt, Crocus chrysanthus (Herbert) Herbert, Crocus flavus Weston subsp. flavus ve Crocus flavus subsp. dissectus T. Baytop&Mathew, morphology, anatomy, cytotaxonomy, pollen micromorphology, seed micromorphology.