Morphologic, Palynologic, and Phylogenetic Relationships of Acantholimon Species (Plumbaginaceae) Sharing Similar Habitats

Abstract

The genus Acantholimon Boiss. is comprised of approximately 200 species worldwide and represented with 71 taxa 56% of which are endemic in Turkey. Acantholimon anatolicum, A. ulicinum var. ulicinum, A. gemicianum, A. riyatguelii and A. acerosum var. acerosum are discussed in the current study due to their similar habitats. Although Acantholimon anatolicum, A. ulicinum var. ulicinum, A. gemicianum are morphologically and taxonomically very similar to each other, Acantholimon riyatguelii and A. acerosum var. acerosum are different than other species with scale (2-3 not 4-5) and scapes lengths. To understand the relationships among these taxa, morphological, palynological, and molecular structures were studied. Both LM and SEM were used to obtain the morphological characters and ITS nuclear gene region was amplified for molecular characteristics of taxa. According to the data, in addition to the morphological similarities there are also palynological and molecular similarities.