Seed coat morphology of some Turkish Campanula (Campanulaceae) species and its systematic implications

Abstract

The seed coat morphology of 10 Campanula species from Turkey, 3 of which are endemic, was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Characteristics of the seeds and their surface morphology were described and compared. Two different types were described based on seed surface features. The Type 1 seed surface was characterized by a reticulate pattern; only C. Olympica belonged to this type. The Type 2 seed surface had a striate testa and was the most common type. It included C. Lyrata subsp. lyrata, C. rapunculoides L. subsp. rapunculoides, C. glomerata L. subsp. hispida, C. involucrata, C. saxonorum, C. persicifolia, C. latiloba subsp. latiloba, C. lactiflora and C. Rapunculus L. var. lambertiana. However, some differences among these species were determined on the basis of their seed surface features at the microstructural level. These features were evaluated as possibly consistent parameters in the delimination of the Campanula taxa studied.