Morphological and cytotaxonomical examination of Alchemilla L. species distributed in the Black Sea region

In this study, 50 Alchemilla species which are distributed in East Black Sea Region were examined in point of morphological and cytotaxonomical features. All examined species belong to the section Alchemilla. These are composed of 3 subsection (Chirophyllum Rothm., Heliodrosium Rothm., Calycahthum Rothm.) and 5 series (Sericeae Buser, Pubescentes Buser, Vulgares Buser, Elatae Rothm., Calycinae Buser). Materials used in this work were collected in their vegetation seasons from East Black Sea Region (Trabzon, Rize, Gümşhane ve Artvin) between 1993 to 1996 years. Morphological studies were carried out from herbarium specimens and chromosome numbers were detected from their young root tips. Finally, in this work, a new key was prepared for Turkish Alchemilla species. Five new records for the flora of Turkey (A. daghestanica, A. speciosa, A. holotricha, A. smirnovii, A. epipsila) fourteen new records for the flora of the region (A. sericata, A. lithophila, A. monticola, A. compactilis, A. straminea, A. erzincanensis, A. orduensis, A. bornmiielleri, A. hirsutiflora, A. persica A. bursensis, A. ciminensis, A. stricta, A. dura) were added. Nevertheles the doubtful state of A. oxysepala was abolished.The somatic chromosome numbers of all the examined 50 Alchemilla species were counted. Chromosome numbers of thirty-seven of these species were determined for the first time. According to the chromosome numbers, the species of genus Alchemilla were proven to be high polyploids. Key Words: Alchemilla,Flora of Turkey, Rosaceae, chromosome number, new records