Anatomical and Pollen Characters in the Genus silene L. (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey

Anatomical and palynological features of Silene caramanica Boiss. and Heldr., S. sipylea O. Schwaz, S. montbretiana Boiss., S. dianthoides Pers., S. pharnaceifolia Fenzl., S. odontopetala Fenzl., S. urvillei Schott, S. nuncupanda Coode and Cullen collected from Turkey were examined and evaluated by numerical analysis in order to determine the taxonomic value of the observed internal peculiarities. Features related to pollen morphology (pollen shape and number of pore) and anatomical characters (idioblasts distribution, stomata index, stomata width and length, diameter of vascular bundle) were found to be important in separating the examined taxa. Principal compenent analysis of all characters showed that the anatomical and palynolological characters to be important in explanning the total variation among the examined taxa.