Investigation and Introduction of Some Rare and Threatened Plants from Turkey

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study carried out to determine the biological properties of endemic and rare plants from Flora of Turkey. Investigation carried out from 2002 to 2005. 34 plant species belonging to 17 families were collected from different regions of Turkey and province of Gaziantep. 13 of these plants were introduced in Botanical Garden of Gaziantep University. 22 of collected species were endemic and other 12 were non-endemic, but rare and endangered plants. The quality and morphological properties of the seeds of five species forming the research material were investigated with the help of X-ray. It was discovered that in the species of Albizzia julibrissin, Alnus glutinosa subsp. antitaurica, and Euonymus latifolius subsp. cauconis endosperm doesn't fill the seed cavity and embryo is placed in center, like as a leaf. In the contrary of that in the species of Zelkova carpinifolia, there were no endosperm and embryo fills the seed cavity completely. The high seed quality of Albizzia julibrissin (99%) and Euonymus latifolius subsp. cauconis (85%) makes these plants rare because of the pressure of anthropogenic factors. Alnus glutinosa subsp. antitaurica (18%) and Zelkova carpinifolia (26%) both have low seed quality. Therefore, these plants are rare, in our opinion, because of their biological properties.