A study on identification of taxa of unidentified asteraceae, fabaceae and lamiaceae families in Herbarium of Mersin University

The aim of this study is the importance of herbariums, which contain rich plant collections. It was emphasized that the herbariums, which are the sources of flora studies or scientific researches, should be formed, protected and transferred to the next generations. In the ranking endemic in Turkey, Mersin (462 taxa), after Antalya (862 taxa) income. Mersin Province Turkey Grid (quadrature) of the system is located at the C4-C5 frame. In this study, the taxa belonging to the families of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae which are collected in different years in Anamur district of Mersin province are included. The workplace was carried out at the Herbarium of the Biology Department of Mersin University (MERARŞHERB; MERA). Floristic identification of unidentified plant samples belonging to Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae families were made in MERA. The importance of herbariums, which are the source for many areas, have been mentioned. The number of taxa and herbarium links of some important international herbarium are given. The samples of the plants collected in various years and located on the newspaper were identified. Plant samples are adhered to herbarium techniques and label information has been written and put into herbarium cabinets. Plant samples were then identified. The scientific name, location and collector name of the diagnosed plants, the herbarium number, if any, habitat and elevation information are given. Family and taxon listing process is written in alphabetical order. A total of 465 plant specimens were identified. Located in the herbarium; 178 plant specimens belonging to Asteraceae family, 98 plant belonging to Fabaceae family and 189 plant belonging to Lamiaceae family were identified. In plant identification; ten volumes of the book, edited by P.H.Davis, and the eleventh volume of the local edition, "Flora of Turkey and The Aegean Islands", were used. The identified taxa were compared with the same plant samples found in the international virtual herbarium and each taxa was given a link to the image of the international virtual herbarium. As a result of this study, 82 taxa (10 taxa endemic) belonging to 42 genera from Asteraceae family, 47 taxa (1 taxa endemic) belonging to 19 genera from Fabaceae family, 85 taxa (14 taxa endemic) belonging to 23 genera from Lamiaceae family; 83 genera from 3 families 214 taxa belonging to the genus were identified. Endemism rate of the identified taxa is 11.57% (25 taxa).