Morphological, palynological and molecular investigation of Polygonum L. Polygonaceae) taxa distributed in turkey

In this study, 28 taxa (727 records) (excluding P. cappadocicum) belonging to the genus Polygonum L. (Polygonaceae) distributed in Türkiye were morphologically analyzed, their amended descriptions, chorological features and identification key at specific level were rearranged. P. praelongum Coode & Cullen was synonymized to P. equisetiforme Sibth. & Sm'nin., P. mersinicum M. Keskin was synonymized to P. karacae Ziel. & Borat. Moreover, it has been revealed that the P. longipes Hal. & Charrel is not widespread in Türkiye. P. luzuloides Jaub. & Spach and P. setosum Jacq., P. bellardii All. and P. pulchellum Lois. were determined as distinct species. According to B and D Criteria of IUCN, nine of endemic and rare taxa to Türkiye were reassessed as endangered (P. afyonicum Leblebici & Gemici, P. argyroceleon Kunze, P. ekimianum Leblebici, H. Duman & Aytaç, P. istanbulicum M. Keskin, P. karacae, P. melihae Gemici & Kit Tan, P. samsunicum Yıldırımlı & Leblebici, P. sivasicum Kit Tan & Yıldız ve P. terzioglui S. Makbul, Coskunç. & S. Kundakçı), 1 taxon is vulnerable (P. salebrosum Coode & Cullen.), 1 taxon is critical (P. paronychioides C.A. Meyer) and the remaining 18 taxa are widespread. The morphological description of P. cappadocicum Boiss. & Bal. previously recorded from Türkiye but could not be sampled within the scope of this study, is updated according to examining its type specimens. In addition, 27 taxa were evaluated in detail for the first time in terms of palynological characteristics. In the examined taxa, pollen shape was found as prolate or spheroidal, and exine ornamentation was found as scabrate, scabrate-psilate or scabrate-foveolate. In the numerical analysis, several morphological (i.e. plant life form, root structure, ochrea length, leaves hairiness, pedicel length, outer whorl stamen length, presence/absence of glands at the base of the stamens, anther color), and palinological (i.e. polar and equatorial axis, pollen type and exine ornementation) characters were determined as important distinguishing characters. Furthermore, nrITS marker is useful to distinguish Polygonum members at specific level and that the genus Polygonum is monophyletic with well supported clades according to BI, JK and ML analyses.