An Overview of the History of Bellevalia (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae) Infrageneric Classifications and Evaluation of Cilia at Leaf Margins to Determine the Position of Species in the Classification

Abstract

Bellevalia Lapeyr. (Asparagaceae) underwent numerous changes in infrageneric classification based on morphological characteristics between 1854 and 1980. In 1939, a comprehensive classification was proposed, based on the morphological features of the flowers and leaves of 45 species. This classification, which was unique at the time, divided the genus into four sections and six subsections. In 2021, a phylogenetic study was conducted on 14 Bellevalia species using four plastid genes. The study led to a revised infrageneric classification determined by the presence or absence of cilia at the leaf margins. In this study, morphological characteristics, particularly the presence of cilia at the leaf margins, were assessed for of 40 Bellevalia species and categorised according to the recent infrageneric classification. The results showed that 13 species exhibited glabrous or smooth leaf margins while 27 displayed non-glabrous leaf margins. Three types of cilia were observed in non-glabrous species: a) ribbon-shape, b) turbinate or conical, and c) papilla. Notably, the species with glabrous leaf margins were exclusively found in the Irano-Turanian region, whereas non-glabrous species were distributed throughout the Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean and Saharo-Sindian regions.