Systematic and Taxonomic Contributions to Genus Gypsophila L. in Türkiye

Abstract

This research is the most detailed systematical study for the genus Gypsophila L. in Türkiye. The Gypsophila is a problematic and important genus that needs revision but will take several years. In the light of current information, there are a total of 65 taxa belonging to 59 species in the country. This study is carried out between 1994-2024 years. Almost 1000 collections from 400 localities were identified from Türkiye. Revised materials belongs to the 48 species. Specimens collected by the authors in general are deposited in herbariums of VANF (in Science Faculty of Van Yüzüncü Yıl Univ.) and GUL (in Biology Dept., Science Faculty of S. Demirel University in Isparta) and the other collections in some Turkish herbaria (GUL, VANF, ATA, EGE, GAZI, Muğla S. Koçman Univ. Science Fac. Hb., Erzincan Univ. Hb.) and Batum Botanical Garden and Herbarium. Revised taxa in the paper were given in the same arrangement as in the ‘Flora of Turkey…’. Existences of G. vaccaria and G. pallasii in the country have not become definite. It was seen samples of G. muralis, G. antari, and G. laricina in fields in the country. In the paper, a new record taxon for Türkiye is as Gypsophila paniculata var. paniculata. The current definitions of 50 taxa and 11 sections are given over herbarium sheets. With Gypsophila, diagnostic key of close relatives was made. New identification keys for allied species and genera close to each other have been made in the paper. In addition, diagnostic keys of interspecific groups in some species such as G. paniculata, G. venusta, G. sphaerocepla, G. heteropoda etc. were prepared. Descriptions of sections and their identification keys have been made revised for the first time for Turkish flora. In the present study, for some new features of most species of Gypsophila were added to descriptions. They may be new species some samples of G. graminifolia, G. tenuifolia, G. bitlisensis, G. muralis and G. elegans. The populations from which these samples were collected should be examined systematically in detail. For this reason, different specimens determined to belong to same species were explained in the paper and different photographs of these species were added. Sections identification key of Gypsophila genus for the Flora of Türkiye and are given by us for the first time in this publication.