Micromorphological Investigations on Pollen Samples of Four Yellow Flowered Taxa of Crocus L. (Iridaceae) from Turkey

Abstract

In this study, yellow flowered taxa of C. ancyrensis (Herbert) Maw, C. sieheanus Barr ex Burtt, C. flavus Weston subsp. flavus and C. flavus subsp. dissectus T. Baytop & Mathew were examined in the point of pollen micromorphology. Accordingly, it was aimed that pollen micromorphological characteristics of the plant samples could be used as a taxonomic criterion considerably or not. In respect to that purpose, exine structure of pollens as regards samples was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). On the other hand, differences between taxa were evaluated. As a result of that investigation, pollen exine ornamentation related to studied four taxa of Crocus L. genus were
observed different to some extent and could be used as vice for taxonomic characteristics.