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Turkish Journal of Botany

Abstract

The poppy (Papaver) has beautiful flowers that attract the attention of not only taxonomists but also the public. However, it also presents several taxonomic problems. This study examines 13 taxa of Papaver sect. Rhoeadium, including the following species native to Türkiye: P. purpureomarginatum, P. dubium subsp. dubium, P. dubium subsp. laevigatum, P. arachnoideum, P. arenarium, P. commutatum subsp. euxinum, P. guerlekense, P. rhopalothece, P. stylatum, P. clavatum, P. syriacum, P. rhoeas, and P. postii. Plant specimens were collected from natural populations, and anatomical investigations were carried out on stem and leaf cross-sections. Pollen and seed features were examined using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The anatomical analysis revealed several taxonomically informative features, including the presence and number of chlorenchyma and collenchyma layers, and the arrangement of vascular bundles. Pollen characteristics (including size, shape, polar axis length to equatorial axis length ratio, and exine ornamentation) and seed morphology traits (such as shape, color, anticlinal and periclinal wall structures, and surface sculpturing patterns) proved to be diagnostic for species delimitation. A comprehensive assessment of morphological, anatomical, palynological, and seed micromorphological characters led to the reevaluation of P. postii, P. syriacum, and P. rhopalothece, which are here considered distinct species. This study highlights the systematic value of anatomical and micromorphological traits in Papaver sect. Rhoeadium, demonstrating their relevance for taxonomic delimitation at both species and sectional levels, and providing a robust framework for future phylogenetic studies.

Author ORCID Identifier

ESENGÜL ÖZKAYMAKOĞLU: 0000-0003-2056-5204

OSMAN TUGAY: 0000-0003-3980-7648

YAVUZ KÖSE: 0000-0002-3060-7271

DENİZ ULUKUŞ: 0000-0002-9627-5492

BAYRAM ATASAGUN: 0000-0003-0097-5695

METİN ARMAĞAN: 0000-0002-3913-954X

FERHAT CELEP: 0000-0003-3280-8373

DOI

10.55730/1300-008X.2887

Keywords

Anatomy, micromorphology, Papaver, pollen, taxonomy

First Page

79

Last Page

102

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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