Asyneuma

Abstract: The Balkan Peninsula is one of the few biodiversity hotspots in Europe, characterized by numerous endemic taxa. Due to their often-restricted distribution and the scarcity of modern phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies from this region, the phylogenetic position and taxonomy of these species are often poorly understood. One example is Asyneuma comosiforme, a stenoendemic species known only from the Shija Gorge in northeastern Albania. Since its description in 1921, the position of this poorly known species within Asyneuma has been questioned. Here, we use nuclear ITS and plastid trnL—trnF DNA sequence data to address the question of the phylogenetic position of this enigmatic species. The inferred phylogenies clearly support A. comosiforme as sister to the main clade of isophyllous Campanula species, which is supported by morphological and ecological similarities. Thus, a new nomenclatural combination, Campanula comosiformis, is proposed. Given the restricted distribution, this species should...

Abstract: Original chromosome observations including 29 species from 19 families are reported. Of these, the chromosome numbers, for 6 taxa including, Cirsium hygrophilum (Asteraceae), Matthiola longipetala subsp. bicornis (Brassicaceae), Dianthus orientalis subsp. nassireddini (Caryophyllaceae), Phlomis bruguieri, Salvia leriifolia, Teucrium oliverianum (Lamiaceae) are new observations. Also, new tetraploid level of n=24 for Asyneuma amplexicaule (Campanulaceae) and new diploid level of n=9 for Euphorbia microsciadia (Euphorbiaceae) are reported here for the first time.

Abstract: 1. The chromosome numbers of 38 species belonging to 11 genera of the tribe Campanuleae of Schonland’s system were determined. 13 of these species had not yet been investigated before. 2. A discussion is given of the differences between the present author’s results and those of other authors. 3. The systematic position of the species of Campanula with the diploid chromosome number 2n = 28 is reviewed. Some arguments are presented in favour of transferring Campanula erinus L. and Campanula drabifolia Sibth. to Dumortier’s genus Roucela. 4. A hypothetical explanation of the origin of the chromosome numbers 2n=28, 30, 32 and 34 of the genus Campanula is given. 5. The inclusion of Specularia perfoliata A. DC. and Specularia biflora Fisch. et Mey. in Triodanis is supported by cytological evidence. 6. Campanula vidalii Wats. and Campanula americana L. should be placed in the genera Azorina and Campanulastrum, respectively, both on morphological and cytological grounds. 7. The segregation of the genera Asyneuma, Synotoma, and Petromarula from Phyteuma is supported by cytological evidence. 8. The relation between the genera Campanula, Symphyandra, and Adenophora is discussed.

Abstract: This research details the flora of Erciyes Dagi, situated in the province of Kayseri in Central Anatolia, entirely within the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region. A total of 2554 plant specimens were collected from the research area between 1996 and 2002. An evaluation of these specimens revealed 89 families, 433 genera and 1170 taxa (1116 species, 31 subspecies and 23 varieties). Of the 1170 taxa, 11 are pteridophytes, 12 gymnosperms and 1147 angiosperms (979 dicotyledons and 168 monocotyledons). Of these taxa, 36 are cultivars. According to the number of taxa, Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae are the largest families (137 Asteraceae, 116 Fabaceae, 88 Poaceae). The largest genera are Astragalus L. (40 taxa), Silene L. (22 taxa) and Veronica L. (19 taxa). The distribution of phytogeographic elements is as follows: Irano-Turanian 347 (29.7%), Mediterranean 79 (6.8%), Euro-Siberian 69 (5.9%) and others 675 (57.6%). Of the 194 (17.2%) endemic taxa in this area, 10 are peculiar to Erciyes Dagi. Known only from their types, Hieracium argaeum (Zahn) Sell & West and Asyneuma trichostegium (Boiss.) Bornm. were collected for the second time. The 161 taxa are new records for the square B5.