Palynological classification of Onosma L. (Boraginaceae) species from east Mediterranean region in Turkey

Abstract

Twenty-five Onosma (Boraginaceae) taxa belonging to two subsections Haplotricha and Asterotricha from the east Mediterranean region in Turkey were studied by palynological analysis and numerical taxonomy. Application of discriminant function analysis to raw data obtained from the acetolysis and Wodehouse methods resulted in very good allocation of species to their original groups. However the results obtained from acetolysis (99%) resulted in better discrimination than the Wodehouse (97%) method. A similar outcome was reached in principal component analysis and UPGMA. Higher percentage of phenetic variation was explained by the acetolysis method. The utility of palynological data in taxonomic classification with the use of using numerical methods is discussed.