Natural Centaurea and Psephellus Taxa Distributed in Artvin (Türkiye) Province

Türkçe

This study was conducted to identify Centaurea and Psephellus taxa naturally distributed in Artvin (Türkiye). In this study, upon examining 370 plant specimens collected from Artvin province under a stereozoom microscope, 27 taxa of the genus Centaurea and 10 taxa of the genus Psephellus were identified. Threats and threat categories for 37 taxa naturally distributed in Artvin are presented. The distribution of identified taxa according to phytogeographic regions; 3 (11.1%) of the Centaurea taxa are from the Eur-Sib, 8 (29.6%) are from Irano-Turan, and 16 (59.3%) of which are distributed in more than one region. 6 (60%) of the Psephellus species are from the Euro-Siberian, 2 (20%), are from Irano-Turan and 2 (%20) of which are distributed in more than one region. Of the 27 taxa belonging to the genus Centaurea, 6 are endemic and 5 are non-endemic and rare taxa, and the endemism rate is 22.2%. Of the 10 species belonging to the genus Psephellus, 5 taxa are endemic and 3 are non-endemic and rare species, and the endemism rate is determined as 50%. The threat status of 37 endemic and non-endemic and rare taxa was assessed according to IUCN threat categories. A diagnostic key was created for the identified taxa, and information such as endemism status, phytogeographic region, flowering period, habitat, and elevation range in which it naturally spreads were provided for each taxon.