A contribution to taxonomy of Centaurea including Psephellus (Asteraceae) based on anatomical and molecular data

Authors: ÖZHAN AYDİN, KAMİL ÇOŞKUNÇELEBİ, MUTLU GÜLTEPE, MURAT ERDEM GÜZEL

Abstract: Seven Centaurea L. s.l (Asteraceae) taxa endemic to Turkey were examined in terms of anatomical and molecular aspects to contribute to their taxonomic positions. Numerical analysis of the 13 anatomical traits showed that average row number of collenchyma and the arrangements of the vascular bundles in the stem, leaf type, and abaxial surface of leaf epidermal tissue were important to determine the investigated taxa. It was also found that the 7 investigated taxa were grouped into 2 distinct clusters based on anatomical traits and combined nrDNAITS/cpDNA data.

Keywords: Anatomy, Centaurea, cpDNA, endemic, ITS, Turkey

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