International Journal of Science and Ecology Vol. 1, No. 5, 2015, pp. 196-200 http://www.aiscience.org/journal/ijpse

Morphological Characteristics and Phenology of the New Taxon chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. chrysanthus from Turkey

Feyza Candan *

Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey

Abstract Crocus chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var . chrysanthus Candan & Özhatay is a basic taxon of Crocus chrysanthus distrubutes in west and south part of the Turkey. Its significant morphological, cytological, palynological and seed micromorphological differences made it as a new taxon. This taxon can be distinguished from the others with its delicate pure yellow anthers and yellow or sometimes yellowish orange flowers. In this study, it is aimed to describe all morphological characteristics of the new taxon Crocus chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. chrysanthus as regards mature with its colorful original photographs in a detailed way. On the other hand, phenology of the taxon is explained with this investigation.

Keywords Morphology, Crocus chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. chrysanthus

Received: June 11, 2015 / Accepted: July 1, 2015 / Published online: July 28, 2015 @ 2015 The Authors. Published by American Institute of Science. This Open Access article is under the CC BY-NC license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

1982), different Crocus have received attention on 1. Introduction some ecological, anatomical, cytological, palynological and molecular studies (Kerndorff and Pasche 2004, 2006, 2011; The Saffron plants which is known as Crocus , is one of Yüzbaşıoğlu and Varol 2004; Şık et al. 2008; Işık and Oybak the members of the family . Saffron, is one of the Dönmez 2006; Candan 2007;Candan et al. 2009a, 2009b; world's most costly spices by weight. Because of its Rudall 1990, 1992; Rudall and Mathew 1990, Candan and agricultural importance, this genus has a commercially Özhatay 2013, Kandemir 2009; Şık and Candan importance in the world in the point of its value as a spice 2009;Yüzbaşıoğlu and Özhatay 2014; Candan 2015a, 2015b). and delicate view of flowers for gardens, parks and rituel places (Mathew 1982, 1984; Mathew 2000). The author studied about Crocus chrysanthus at her doctorate thesis that she found different forms of Crocus chrysanthus Iridaceae is a family of about 92 genera and 1800 species and and completed her study in 2007. The author continued her mainly distributed in the Southern hemisphere continents as studies between 2007-2011 after her doctorate thesis. herbs with rhizomes, corms or bulbs (Mathew 1998; Mathew According to all detailed field and laboratuary studies, 2002). Crocus genus is represented by 133 taxa of which109 Candan and Özhatay (2013) wrote the article about 7 new are endemic to Turkey (Candan and Özhatay 2013; Harpke et taxa of Crocus chrysanthus (Herbert) Herbert. It is mentioned al. 2013; Kerndorrf et al. 2013a, 2013b, 2013c; Rukšāns at that article that, Crocus chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus 2010, 2013; Schneider 2014; Yüzbaşıoğlu et al. 2015). var . chrysanthus Candan & Özhatay can be identified by There are some investigations made about some Crocus taxa looking at its yellow flowers and yellow anthers which was distributed all over the world (Collins 1937, Karasawa 1942, mentioned at the identifying key of the Crocus chrysanthus Shorina 1975). After the book ‘The Crocus’ written (Mathew sensu lato. Therefore, the initial objective of this study was to

* Corresponding author E-mail address: [email protected] 197 Feyza Candan: Morphological Characteristics and Phenology of the New Taxon Crocus Chrysanthus Subsp. Chrysanthus Var. Chrysanthus from Turkiye investigate the all morphological features of new taxon Other specimens examined: A5 Yozgat, Çekerek, Hanözü Crocus chrysanthus subsp . chrysanthus var . chrysanthus in a village, 1250 m (ANK 332); B6 Kayseri, Pinarbaşi, Hinzir detailed way with its original colorful photographs. Mountain, 1950 m (AEF 20563)!; ibid 2100 m (AEF 14009)!; ibid 2100m (HUB 35994); B6 Kahramanmaraş, Göksun, 2. Material and Method Kaman Mountain, 1400-1600 m (HUB 35991) with C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. bicoloroceus ; C3 The populations of the plants examined are given below with Antalya, 15 km from Akseki-Seydişehir, 1800 m (GAZI)!, the locality they deploy. The expression A5, B6, C3, C4, C5 C4 Karaman, Hadim, Bolay village, 1500-1800 m (HUB are located before the localities are given in accordance with 35998) with C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. the grid square system used in Flora of Turkey (Mathew bicoloroceus and C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. 1984). atrovioloceus . Taxonomical description of the plant taxon followed Candan The specimens themselves have been deposited in the and Özhatay (2013). All the examinations were based on Herbarium of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University living and herbarium materials. The locality of the sample is (ISTE). Other samples examined are deposited at the given below. following herbaria AEF (Ankara University, Pharmacy Faculty Herbarium), ANK (Ankara University, Science *Type: Turkey, C5 Adana, Pozanti, Aladağ Mountains, Faculty Herbarium), GAZI (Gazi University, Science Faculty Kamişli village, Siyirma place, 1555 m, 26.03.2005, F. Herbarium), HUB (Hacettepe University, Science Faculty Candan, ISTE 86026 (holotype: ISTE). Herbarium),

Table 1. Comparison of the data in Flora of Turkey (1984) as regards C. chrysanthus (Herbert) Herbert and the data obtained with this study as regards C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. chrysanthus.

Measurements of C. chrysanthus subsp . Morphological features Measurements in Flora of Turkey chrysanthus var . chrysanthus Corm measurements (mm) 6-15 8-25x8-20 Cataphyll number 3-5 4-6 Leaf number 3-7 3-7(8) Leaf width (mm) 0,5-2,5 0,5-1,0(1,1) Flower number 1-4 1-4(5) Flower diameter (cm) - (0,4)1,0-4,5 Perianth tube (cm) 3-7 (1)2,5-10,5(16) Perianth tube’s underground part (cm) - (0,1)1-6(8) Tepal (outer tepal)(0,4) 0,5-1,3 0,5-1,1 Width (cm) (inner tepal) (0,35) 0,4-1,2 (outer tepal) 1,8-3,5 Length (cm) (1,3-)1,5-3,5(-4) (inner tepal) 1,5-3,1 Filament (mm) 3-6 (3,2)3,5-6,5(7,4) Anther (mm) 6-14 (6)7-13,5 Stylus (mm) - 8,5-17,2(18,3) Fruit 0,5-0,7 0,5-0,8 Width (cm) Length (cm) 1-2 1,5-2,4 Seed Width (mm) - (1,4)1,6-2,0(2,2) Length (mm) 2-3(-4) (2,5)2,8-3,8

yellowish orange, diameter (0,4)1,0-4,5 cm. Flowers yellow 3. Results or rarely yellowish orange, 1-4(5),(0,4)1,0-4,5 cm diameters. Throat and perigon tube yellow, (1)2,5-10,5(16) cm, 3.1. Morphological Peculiarities pubescent. Tepals oblanseolate or eliptic-obtus, outer tepals (0,4)0,5-1,3x1,8-3,5; inner tepals generally pale yellow, Corm ovoid or subglobose, 0,8-2,5x0,8-2,0 cm, tunic (0,35)0,4-1,2x1,5-3,1 cm. Filaments yellow or yellowish coriceus. Rings with recessive tooth like prejections. orange, orange, (3,2)3,5-6,5(7,4) mm, pubescent or papillose. Cataphyll creamy-yellow, 4-6. Prophyll absent. Bract ve Anthers yellow (6)7-13,5 mm, basifix, ekstrorse. Stylus bracteol not equal. Leaves 3-7(8), synanthous, shorter or yellowish orange, rarely red, somethimes fimbriate, longer longer than flowers in flowering time, green, 0,5-1,0(1,1) than stamens, 8,5-17,2(18,3) mm. Capsula loculicide, not mm wide, margins papillose. Flowers 1-4(5), yellow, International Journal of Plant Science and Ecology Vol. 1, No. 5, 2015, pp. 196-200 198

purple-tinged, 15-24 mm. Seeds pale reddish brown, The first detailed measurements were given in the point of (1,4)1,6-2,0(2,2)x(2,5)2,8-3,8 mm (Figs.1-2). Crocus chrysanthus with Flora of Turkey and The East Habitat:Under Pinus nigra , open grassy area, often with Aegean Islands (1984). Nevertheless, these knowledge are not clarifying the taxon clearly. Some detailed information Sarcopoterium sp. Verbascum sp., Colchicum sp., Muscari sp. given about C. chrysanthus sensu lato (Candan and Özhatay and Galanthus sp., C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. bicoloroceus and C.chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. 2013), but more detailed original photographs regarding atrovioloceus . morphological features of C. chrysanthus subsp . chrysanthus var. chrysanthus were given with this investigation. This 3.2. Phenological Peculiarities study is the first study gives the information about all the significance characters of C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus Crocus chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. chrysanthus var. chrysanthus with their colorful orginal photographs (Figs. distributes in the wild places. The plants flowering time 1-2). However, C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. period is from February to March. chrysanthus can be distinguished from the other taxa of C. chrysanthus by its yellow anthers and yellow or yellowish 4. Discussion orange flowers. These photographs can be used to seperate this taxon form the other C. chrysanthus taxa clearly. C. chrysanthus was described by W. Herbert in 1837, collected by Frivaldsky in Rumelia. It is distributed in the As a result, it can be clearly said, morphological characters of Balkans and E. Romania. Mathew wrote a magnificent flower are very important for Crocus chrysanthus sensu lato monograph ‘The Crocus’ (1982). However; the genus Crocus . In the studied taxon according to this investigation, was previously revised by Mathew (1984) for the Flora of all morphological differences with acceptable taxonomical Turkey and The East Aegean Islands. The discussion note significance were mentioned with more important orginal under C. chrysanthus account cited in the Flora of Turkey colored photographs for making it easy to identify the taxon. and The East Aegean Islands is as follows: A variable plant, possible consisting of more than one taxon but detailed field studies are needed to determine the status of the various cytotypes. The Crocus genus and especially biflori serie are complex and problemetic systematic categories. According to Mathew (1982), the new species falls into series Biflori . Crocus chrysanthus belongs to this serie. (Mathew 1982). On the other hand, there is an important phenotypic variation, is seen on C. chrysanthus (Candan 2007; Candan 2013; Candan and Özhatay, 2013). Candan (2007) determined three forms of C. chrysanthus with different cytotypes (2n=8, 12, 20+2B) during her doctorate thesis field studies. After this study, she continued her investigations as examining more populations. The results of those detailed studies including morphology, anatomy, cytology, palynology and seed micromorphology provide evidence that variation does correlate with anther and flower colors, chromosome numbers, pollen grain features and seed surface micromorphology. After these studies, authors revealed Crocus chrysanthus sensu lato with 4 ( C. chryasanthus subsp. chrysanthus , C.chrysanthus subsp. punctatus , C. chrysanthus subsp. kesercioglui , C. chrysanthus subsp. sipyleus ) and 3 varieties (C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. chrysanthus , C. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. bicoloreus , C. chrysanthus subsp. atroviolaceus ) (Candan and Özhatay Figure 1. a.General view of C.chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus var. 2013). chrysanthus , b, c.Close view of flowers, d.Close view of anther, e.Close view of styleus, f.Close view of filamants, g, h.Close view of leaves. 199 Feyza Candan: Morphological Characteristics and Phenology of the New Taxon Crocus Chrysanthus Subsp. Chrysanthus Var. Chrysanthus from Turkiye

Figure 2. a, b.General view of corms, c.Close view of corms, d.Close view of rings, e.Close view of fruit, f.Close view of seed. International Journal of Plant Science and Ecology Vol. 1, No. 5, 2015, pp. 196-200 200

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