Comparison of seed surfaces of caryophyllaceae species

In this study, seed samples were used for two different taxa belonging genus Arenaria, Minuartia, Cerastium, Petrorhagia, Saponaria, Gypsophila, Silene, in the family Caryophyllaceae. For this purpose, photos of 15-20 mature seeds from each taxon were taken by both stereo microscope and the SEM microscope. As a result of the examination of specimens, of all taxa seed shape, size, color, side and back surface cell shape, cell edge shape, cell wall type and the granular type periklinal depictions were created. Also using the descriptions,it was revealed that whether seed character among taxa and sexes is different or not.Then, the fork diagnosing keys were created using these characters. After all, the requirement of use of seed surfaces is revealed in separation of taxa belonging to especially the family Caryophyllaceae. As a result of this study the 11 taxa seed micromorphology determined for the first time, were contributed to micromorphology of seed of three taxa. Also seed characters are shown as distinctive between the genus and taxa. All these contributions have shown how important seed micromorphology is in the taxonomy of the family Caryophyllaceae