The seed surface varieties of Paronychia genus (Caryophyllaceae) in Turkey

By conducting this study, the aim of the researcher is to investigate the conditions of widely spread, (in Turkey), Paronychia Mill. (Caryophyllaceae) taxon's surface varieties, and understand to what extent these could be used in the separation of the taxon. It is known that seed surface micromorphology contributes to the taxonomy. In Turkey, the species of Paronychia is represented by 45 taxa, including 33 species, 5 subspecies and 7 varieties. 32 of these are endemic, and their rate of endemism is 71,1%. The seeds, which will be the material of the study, have been collected from their topotype (the ones that are available in our country). For each taxon, mature seeds have been selected with the help of stereo zoom microscope, and the surface pictures of these seeds have been shot with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The side and back pictures have been separately zoomed in 170X, 1000X and 3000X. The seed pictures have been examined, and then, it has been revealed that these pictures can be used in the separation of the taxon.