Taxonomic revision of the Genus anemone L. and Pulsatilla mill. (Ranunculaceae) distributed in Turkey

This thesis study includes the revision of the genera Anemone L. and Pulsatilla Mill. It is aimed to contribute to the discussions held abroad with the taxa distributed in our country by revising these genera, taxonomic categories of which are controversial, based on morphological, anatomical and palynological studies. The material of the study consists of the plant samples that were obtained and examined during the field studies and herbarium visits between the years of 2016 to 2018. Plant samples were photographed during the field studies. The collected plant samples were processed as herbarium specimens. The characters that are not included in Flora of Turkey were also examined in morphological studies. Fresh plant samples were fixed in 70% ethanol for anatomical studies. Cross sections of the scapus, pedicel, leaf and petiole, and surface sections of the leaves were taken by free-hand, and stained with safranin. The well-stained sections were photographed with an light microscope. In palynological studies, the slides were prepared by Wodehouse method. Pollen size and pollen surface sculpture patterns were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). Descriptions of the genus and species, and genus and species identification keys to Anemone and Pulsatilla were revised. Determined variations were added to the descriptions to prevent species identification mistakes resulting from the variations. Maps of distribution of each taxon in Turkey were given. Distinguishing features of taxa were photographed, and anatomical characteristics were given in tables. LM and SEM images obtained in palynological studies and the measurements were also provided in tables. Morphological studies revealed that A. narcissiflora L. subsp. willdenowii (Boiss.) Greuter & Burdet is a synonym of A. narcissiflora L. subsp. fasciculata (L.) Ziman & Fedor. P. albana (Stev.) Bercht. & J. Presl subsp. albana (Stev.) Bercht. & J. Presl was identified as a color variation, and considered a synonym of P.violacea Rupr. subsp. violacea Rupr. in the genus Pulsatilla. It was determined from the anatomical studies that there are similarities between both genera and species. In palynological studies, tricolpate, syncolpate, polipantoporate types of pollen grains were found in Anemone, whereas polipantoporate type in Pulsatilla. It was understood from the measurements that pollen characteristics serve as taxonomic markers to distinguish these taxa. In conclusion, this thesis study revealed the presence of eight taxa of Anemone and two taxa of Pulsatilla, having a distribution in Turkey.