Ethnobotanical research in Surmene district (Trabzon-Turkey, Black Sea Region)

Traditional knowledge of plants is inter-generationally transferred. It is important to keep proper records in order to avoid the loss of the ethnobotanical heritage. This study is an ethnobotanical survey conducted in Surmene district in the Black Sea Region of Trabzon-Turkey. The study was conducted between 2018 and 2019. Plants were collected from different altitudes in the district. The required information was collected through ethnobotanical interviews with local people. Use value of species was determined and informant consensus factor was calculated for medicinal plants included in the study. In this study, eighty-two taxa belonging to 42 families were identified. Sixty-six of them are natural, while 16 of them are cultivated plants. One of the species is endemic, Anthemis melanoloma subsp. trapezuntica Grierson. Of the collected plants, 54 taxa are used for medical purposes, 31 is used for food, 17 is used for animal fodder, 16 is used as fuel, 3 is used as honey plant, 2 is used as organic fertilizers, and 16 is used for different purposes. Most of the plants used in the district belong to the families Asteraceae (11 species), Rosaceae (9 species), Lamiaceae (6 species), Poaceae (4 species), and Ericaceae (4 species). Of all the medicinal plants, Citrus sinensis, Actinidia deliciosa, Mentha x piperita, and Thymus nummularius seem are well-known to the locals, as indicated by their high UV. In conclusion, this study collected information regarding the traditional uses of plants in Surmene district and also helped to preserve the valuable information. Ethnobotanical studies are increasing the possibilities of identifying new molecules; thus, this study may serve as a basis for future pharmacological and phytochemical studies which could lead to the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Marmaris (Mugla, Turkey)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: This study aimed to document traditional uses of medicinal plants in the Marmaris district of south-west Anatolia and to compare this information with our current knowledge of plant medicine in Turkey and the Mediterranean countries

Check-list of additional taxa to the supplement flora of Turkey VIII

The eighth check-list of the series entitled "Check-list of Additional taxa to the Flora of Turkey" comprises a total of 152 taxa based on the data given in 133 papers published the period between December 2014-December 2016. Additionally taxa which have not been recorded neither in the 11 volumes of the Flora of Turkey nor in the seven previously published supplementary check-lists. With this paper the following are added to the Turkish flora: 127 taxa new to science and 25 taxa new records

Check-list of additional taxa to the supplement flora of Turkey VII

The seventh check-list of the series entitled "Check-list of Additional taxa to the Flora of Turkey" comprises a total of 99 taxa based on the data given in 54 papers published the period between November 2013-December 2014. Additionally taxa which have not been recorded neither in the 11 volumes of the Flora of Turkey nor in the six previously published supplementary checklists. With this paper the following are added to the Turkish flora: 78 taxa new to science and 21 taxa new records

Check-list of additional taxa to the supplement flora of Turkey IX

The ninth of the check-list series entitled "Check-list of additional taxa to the supplement flora of Turkey" includes 159 taxa based on 120 papers published the period between January 2017 and December 2018. These taxa have not been recorded in none of the 11 volumes of the Flora of Turkey nor in the eight previously published supplementary check-lists. With this paper the following are added to the Turkish flora: 117 taxa new to science and 42 taxa new records

Check-list of additional taxa to the supplement Flora of Turkey V

The fifth check-list of the series entitled "Additional taxa to the Flora of Turkey" comprises a total of 249 taxa based on data given in 167 papers, which have been published up until the end of 2010. It provides details of taxa which have not been recorded either in the 11 volumes of Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands or in the 4 previously published supplementary check-lists

Taraxacum mirabile, an enigmatic sexual halophilous endemic dandelion, represents a new section

Taraxacum mirabile Wagenitz (Asteraceae, Cichorieae, Crepidinae), a remarkable but taxonomically unexplored endemic species of Central Anatolia, is examined in detail. It is shown to be a sexually reproducing diploid (2n=16) species. It used to be included in Taraxacum sect. Orientalia in the literature. However, the nrDNA analysis revealed that T. mirabile is remote from that section. Moreover, it exhibits a munber of unique features, such as fleshy leaves with a white, cartilaginous apex, long, dense, bright white tomentum at the plant base, multiple root heads, achenes with an extremely short conical cone and with very few minute spinules, a very narrow involucre with imbricate outer phyllaries, and white, not numerous florets. The most specific feature of T. mirabile is the fine, microscopic sculpture of achene surface, consisting of hair-like protuberances, not known in other Taraxacum species. These attributes, together with the convincing result of the nrDNA analysis, qualify T. mirabile to be recognized as a member of a separate section, T. sect. Echinulata, sect nov. The habitat and distribution of T. mirabile are described, and the character of its endemism is discussed

Contributions to the genus Taraxacum (Asteraceae) five new species records for the flora of Turkey

Five Taraxacum species are recorded for the first time for the flora of Turkey: T. caudatuliforme (sect. Taraxacum), T. erythrospermum (sect. Erythrosperma), T. fascinans (sect. Palustria), T. oblongatum (sect. Taraxacum) and T. darbandense (sect. Erythrocarpa). Descriptions, distributions in Turkey and photographs are provided. Chromosome numbers were counted, and for T. erythrospermum (2n=16), T. oblongatum (2n=24) and T. caudatuliforme (2n=24), the latter is reported for the first time

Anatomical features of Salvia potentillifolia Boiss. & Heldr. ex Benth. and Salvia nydeggeri Hub.-Mor. (Lamiaceae)

The genus Salvia is represented by 107 taxa in Turkey and 54 of them are endemic. The genus has been used medically since ancient times and it is known as "adacayi", "salba", "dag cayi, "calba" in Turkish. Traditional uses of Salvia potentillifolia are reported for cold and flu in Turkey. In this study leaf, petiole and stem anatomy of two endemic species, Salvia potentillifolia and S. nydeggeri, are compared. The study found that the mesophyll type is bifacial and the leaf is of amphistomatic type in both species. In the study we observe morphologically different types of glandular hairs. There are also dense eglandular hairs. The study also observes starch grains in petioles. The vascular bundles are of the collateral type. Both species have similarities in leaf and stem anatomy. The anatomical differences and similarities of these two morphologically similar species are given in detail

Traditional herbal remedies used in kidney diseases in Turkey: an overview

Ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal studies have become increasingly recognised as a valuable source of information on the use and possible pharmacological activity of many plant species. There is no study presenting traditional herbal remedies used for kidney diseases in Turkey. The purpose of the paper is to compile herbal remedies used in kidney diseases in Turkey with detailed usage information and chemical constituents. The botanical names, families, and local names; used parts; preparation methods; administration/ dosage; kidney problems and chemical constituents were presented by screening ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinaland phytochemical studies. The most cited plant families, the most cited genera, and the most frequently used plant parts were determined and presented in graphics. In total, 300 taxa belonging to 70 families were determined as being traditional herbal remedies used in kidney diseases. Asteraceae (57), Lamiaceae (33), Rosaceae (30), Fabaceae (16), Malvaceae (15), Apiaceae (13) and Poaceae (10) were found as the most cited plant families. The most cited genera were Helichrysum (44), Equisetum (27), Tribulus (23), Urtica (23), Rosa (17), Alcea (14), Hypericum (14) and Paliurus (14), respectively. It was found that the aerial parts were the most frequently used part of theplant, accounting for 28%. Following in this category are leaves (19%), flowers (14%), fruits (14%), underground parts (13%), seeds (5%), stem (3%), and other parts (4%). The pharmacological studies of the most cited genera were also reviewed to confirm the efficacy of these plants inthe treatment of kidney diseases. It is concluded that a number of pharmacological and phytochemical research support the traditional usage of plants, but further studies are needed. Our findings are expected to be the basis for candidate pharmaceutical products