A taxonomical study on the Petrorhagia (Ser.) link (Caryophyllaceae) genus of species in Turkey

Morphology, anatomy, palynology and cytology of the taxa belonging to the genusPetrorhagia (Ser.) Link (Caryophyllaceae) spreading in Turkey investigated in this study. Thesetaxa are P. lycica (Davis) Ball&Heywood, P. cretica (L.) Ball&Heywood, P. hispidula (Boiss. &Heldr.) Ball&Heywood, P. alpina subsp. alpina, P. alpina subsp. olympica (Boiss.)Ball&Heywood, P. saxifraga (L.) Link, Handb. Erkenn, P. pamphylica (Boiss.&Ball.)Ball&Heywood, P. peroninii (Boiss.) Ball&Heywood, P. prolifera (L.) Ball&Heywood, P. dubia(Rafin.) G. Lopez & Romo. Howewer, P. lycica, P. hispidula, P. pamphylica and P. peroninii areendemic for Turkey.As a result of morphological studies on taxa described in flora with some lack ofknowled about their features before, determined and some differences among relative taxaemphasized clearly. On the other hand seed morphology are examined by both stereo andscanning elektron microscopy, also illustrations related with taxa are given.Anatomical studies on root, stem and leaf were examined with light microscopy,illustrations were taken and added.As a result of palynological studies; pollen morphology differences of taxa aredetermined. Pollen type of investigated taxa are polyporat (12-22 pored), spheroidal, ekzinestructure tektate, ornamentation microekinate. On the other hand P. alpina subsp. alpina hasthe smallest diameter of pollen (18,57 µm) on the contrary P. dubia has the largest (37,8 µm).Pollen pores are varying between 12 to 22 and mininum pored species; P. saxifraga and P.dubia with 14, maximum pored species P. hispidula, P. alpina subsp. alpina and P. alpinasubsp. olympica with 22. maximum ekzine thickness determined in P. pamphylica (3,78 µm)and minimum one is in P. saxifraga (1,73 µm). While P. peroninii has the maximum pollen porediamater with 4,23 µm , P. alpina subsp. alpina has minimum pore diamater with of 2,37 µm.As a result of cytological studies on taxa, chromosome number of P. lycica; 2n=60, , P.cretica; 2n=26, P. saxifraga, P. prolifera and in P. pamphylica are 2n=30.Distrubition and distrubition area feature of Petrorhagia taxa are investigated, it isdetermined that, Petrorhagia taxa are commonly existed in sandy, dry and limestone regionswhich are not suitable for most of another competitive plant species and Petrorhagia taxa alsogrown in regions such as dry meadows, road sides, ruins, clif side slopes and between 1000-3000 meter high. Physiological and chemical features of soils that Petrorhagia taxa grown onare also determined.Variations ranges among the genus were determined by discriminal and hierarchicalcluster analysis methods according to morphological and palynological data, morphological andpalynological data were determined at the end of this study. With the application of discriminalanalysis and hierarchical cluster analysis methods variations ranges among the genus weredetermined. In addition function graphics by result of discriminal analysis; dendograms by resultof hierarchical cluster analysis are given.Key Words: Caryophyllaceae, Petrorhagia, Morhoplogy, Anatomy, Palynology, Cytology,Discriminal Analysis, Cluster Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis.