Salvia anatolica (Lamiaceae), a new species from East Anatolia, Turkey

Salvia anatolica Hamzaoğlu & A. Duran sp. nova (Lamiaceae) is described and illustrated from East Anatolia, Turkey. It is closely related to S. bracteata, an endemic also confined to East Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters of S. anatolica from closely similar taxa are discussed. The pollen characteristics of S. anatolica and S. bracteata are presented in photographs. © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2005

Daily Ambrosia pollen concentration in the air of Ankara, Turkey (1990-1999)

The airborne ragweed pollen spectrum was investigated in the air of Ankara, Turkey for a period of ten years (1990-1999) using a Burkard seven-day volumetric recording trap. In our study period, long distance transported Ambrosia pollen has been registered. Daily pollen levels varied from low to high in Burge's system. In last three years, the pollen concentration of Ambrosia showed a clear increasing tendency. Our results prove that ragweed pollen may be an important threat for ragweed sensitive patients in Ankara city in near future

Seed coat ultrastructure of hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties of Vicia sativa

The mature seed coat structure in hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties of Vicia sativa L. was examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy to investigate differentiation in cytological and morphological features between these varieties. The outer layer of the seed coats was composed of macrosclereid (Malpighian) cells in the hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties of Vicia sativa. The walls of the macrosclereid cells were thickened, and the cell vacuoles were filled with tannin. The cytoplasm of the macrosclereids contained small- and large-sized vacuoles and ribosomes, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum. Under this layer there was a hypodermal layer composed of osteosclereids separated by large intercellular spaces. The bottom layer consisted of parenchyma cells. Thin-walled parenchyma cells were filled with amyloplasts that contained large starch grains, protein bodies, and a few organelles. Seed size and colour are important characteristics for distinguishing between hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties. The hard seeds of Vicia sativa are smaller than the soft seeds. © TÜBİTAK

Pollen morphology of Scaligeria DC. (apiaceae) in Turkey

In this study, the pollen morphology of all Scaligeria DC. species distributed in Turkey were studied with light and scanning electron microscopy for the first time. The aim is to contribute to knowledge of the variation among seven Scaligeria species, which have taxonomic problems, based on pollen morphological characteristics by population analysis. The pollen is radially symmetrical, isopolar, and tricolporate in all examined species. Pollen grains are prolate and subprolate with the polar axes ranging from 18.4 to 37 µm and the equatorial axes from 9.8 to 30 µm. Their polar shapes are triangular, triangular to subcircular, circular to subcircular, or triangular to subtriangular. Several types of exine ornamentations have been observed on pollen by scanning electron microscopy. Numerical analysis showed that pore structure, the ratio of P/E, and ornamentation in the polar and equatorial views are most valuable variables for separating the Scaligeria species. All S. lazica taxa were grouped together and S. capillifolia and S. tripartita were the external taxa due to cluster and PCA analysis. © 2018, Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit: TOA-2014-4557This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Erciyes University (Project Number: TOA-2014-4557) and the Technology Research and Application Center (TAUM) of Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

A 2-year Aeropalynological Survey of Allergenic Pollen in the Atmosphere of Kastamonu, Turkey

Knowledge of airborne pollen concentrations and the weather conditions influencing them is important for air quality forecasters, allergists and allergy sufferers. For this reason, a 7-day recording volumetric spore trap of the Hirst design was used for pollen monitoring between January 2006 and December 2007 in Kastamonu, Turkey. A total of 293,427 pollen grains belonging to 51 taxa were recorded during the study period. In the 2 years of study, the period March–August was identified as the main pollination season for Kastamonu. The highest monthly pollen counts were observed in May in both years. Six taxa made up 86.5% of the total amount of pollen recorded in the atmosphere of Kastamonu. These were as follows: Pinaceae (42.9%), Cupressaceae (20.6%), Poaceae (9.7%), Quercus (5.5%) Betula (5.3%) and Carpinus (2.6%). Four of these are considered to be highly allergenic (Betula, Carpinus, Cupressaceae and Poaceae). There were also a greater percentage of highly allergenic taxa found within the city, including Betula pendula that is not part of the local flora. This shows that through urban planting, the public and municipalities can unconsciously create a high risk for allergy sufferers. Daily average pollen counts from the six most frequently recorded pollen types were entered into Spearman’s correlation analysis with meteorological data. Mean daily temperature, relative humidity, daily rainfall and wind speed were found to significantly (p < 0.05) affect atmospheric pollen concentrations, but the relationships between pollen concentrations and meteorological variables can vary and so there is a need for more local studies of this nature

A new record for the flora of Turkey: Scorzonera ketzkhovelii Grossh. (Asteraceae)

Scorzonera ketzkhovelii Grossh. (Asteraceae) was recently collected from Yusufeli, Artvin (north-east Anatolia) and it has been reported as a new species record for the flora of Turkey. It is described and illustrated. In addition, its karyological features and pollen morphology are given. © TÜBİTAK

Pollen morphology of Astragalus L. sect. Onobrychoidei DC. (Fabaceae) in Turkey [Türkiye'deki Astragalus L. cinsi Onobrychoidei DC. (Fabaceae) seksiyonunun polen morfolojisi]

The pollen morphology of 45 specimens of 29 species of the genus Astragalus L. of the section Onobrychoidei DC. distributed in Turkey was studied with light and electron microscopies. The pollen is generally 3-colporate. Pollen of the section is prolate, subprolate, and prolate-spheroidal. Size varies, with the polar axis ranging from 23.4 to 42.6 µm and the equatorial axis from 14.3 to 36.4 µm. The outline is elliptic or compressed oval in the meridional section, versus trilobulate and sometimes tetralobulate in the polar optical section. Sculpturing is usually microreticulate, rarely reticulate or rugulate in the meridional optical section, and psilate and perforate (with irregular or circular perforations) in the polar optical section. © TÜBİTAK