Morphological and taxonomic investigations on a local endemic species: Allium ilgazense N. Özhatay

Abstract

The genus Allium is represented by a high number of taxa and a high endemism ratio in Turkey. Moreover, the genus has medicinal and economic importance because some of its species can be regarded as among mankind's the most important and the most ancient cultivated crops (onion, garlic, and leek). In this study, the morphological features and taxonomic status of a local endemic species (Allium ilgazense) were determined and the recommendations dealing with its conservation status were presented. For this purpose, a total of 30 individuals collected from 3 different populations (10 individuals per population) of the species that grow in different locations and ecologies were investigated. The morphological results clearly indicated that A. ilgazense is a polymorphic species and shows distinct variation in almost all of the quantitative characters (21 out of 36), although the qualitative characters (15 out of 36) are more stable. The diagnostic characteristics of A. ilgazense were specified as 'colour of flowers', 'indumentum and shape of inner and outer perianth segments', 'shape of spathe valves', 'colour of anthers' and 'slightly exserted stamens'. The UPGMA analysis, based on morphological similarities and dissimilarities (21 selected morphological characters) among 30 individuals from 3 populations of A. ilgazense and 10 individuals of A. jubatum, presented that A. ilgazense is a clearly distinct species and there is no significant specialization among its populations distributed in different ecologies. Moreover, in order to protect the natural populations of A. ilgazense, the threat factors were determined. According to the IUCN criteria, a new threat category (EN, Endangered) was recommended for the species.