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A MORPHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION ON SILENE L., (CARYOPHYLLACEAE) SPECIES DISTRIBUTED IN WEST ANATOLIA AND NORTH CYPRUS

KEMAL YILDIZ*

Abstract: In this study, the morphology of Silene sipylea (L.) O. Schwarz, S. fabaria (L.) Sibth. & Sm., S. tenuiflora Guss., S. lydia Boiss. distributed in West Anatolia (B1, C1, C2) and S. discolor Sibth.& Sm., S. colorata Poir. var. colorata, S. apetala Willd. var. grandiflora distributed in North Cyprus was investigated. Making use of fresh specimens collected from both geographical regions, drawings of the general view and parts of the plant such as the flower, parts of the flower (sepal, petal), fruit were made, and micrographs of the seeds taken by stereo light microscopy. Significant morphological and seed characters related to the species are presented. Longest calyx was encountered in S. sipylea and the shortest in S. apetala var. grandiflora while S. lydia, S. discolor, S. colorata var. colorata and S. apetala var. grandiflora had puberulent calyx, S. sipylea, S. fabaria and S. tenuiflora had a glabrous calyx. S. fabaria, S. tenuiflora and S. apetala var. grandiflora were found to have 10 anastomotic veins in the calyx, whereas S. discolor, S. colorata var. colorata and S. sipylea had 10, and S. lydia 25-30 in the calyx. Ligula were observed in the basal petal blades of all the species. Ligula of S. sipylea and S. lydia are quite small. The anthophore in S. lydia is approximately 1 mm and as long as 25-30 mm in S. sipylea The seeds of S. colorata var. colorata and S. apetala var. grandiflora are distinct from those of the other species, they are reniform shaped, round, winged and wrinkled. The largest seeds were observed in S. tenuiflora and the smallest in S. discolor. The tubercles are quite distinct in S. lydia and S. tenuiflora has an elongated conical shape.
 

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Celal Bayar University, 45140 Muradiye- Manisa, Turkey.
Corresponding Author: kemalyil@gmail.com