An anatomical and ecological study of some Crocus L. taxa (Iridaceae) from the west part of Turkey

Abstract

A comparative anatomical and ecological study was made of nine Crocus taxa (C. gargaricus subsp. gargaricus, C. chrysanthus, C. biflorus subsp. nubigena, C. flavus subsp. dissectus, C. olivieri subsp. istanbulensis, C. candidus, C. pallasii subsp. pallasii, C. cancellatus subsp. mazziaricus, C. pulchellus) from the west part of Turkey. Leaf anatomy has been differentiated among the taxa. The lower surfaces of the arms and the sides of keels have projections only in C. biflorus subsp. nubigena. Anticlinal walls of epidermis in stomatal regions are generally sinuous, but sometimes straight. There are four large vascular bundles in the margin of the arms and on the corner of the keels. Sclerenchymatous tissue was observed in phloem and xylem poles of larger bundles in C. flavus subsp. dissectus, C. olivieri subsp. istanbulensis, C. candidus, C. pallasii subsp. pallasii, while it was observed only in the phloem pole in C. gargaricus subsp. gargaricus, C. chrysanthus, C. biflorus subsp. nubigena, C. cancellatus subsp. mazziaricus, C. pulchellus. All taxa grow on clayey-loamy and clayey soils, with pH 6.09–7.18, with 3.1–5.7% of CaCO3, 3.1–5.7% of organic matter, 2.5–67.7% of phosphorus, and 52.7–198.7% of potassium