MICROMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES (ACHENE / CYPSELA) ON SELECTED ASTERACEAE TAXA NATIVE TO TURKIYE

With this study fruit width-length measurements, weights and surface morphologies of some taxa belonging to Asteraceae family distributed in Türkiye were studied. The aim of the study was to reveal the fruit morphological characteristics and differences between the taxa of Tragopogon buphthalmoides, Dittrichia viscosa, Dittrichia graveolens, Tripleurospermum caucasicum, Kemulariella caucasica, Leontodon hispidus subsp. hispidus, Jurinea consanguinea and Jurinea moschus. Widths and lengths of the fruits were measured with Leica EZ4 microscope and digital caliper. Fruit weights were weighted out with Dikomsan precision scales. The stereomicroscope to determine the morphological characteristics of the fruits was also used. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in USKIM (Center for University and Industry Collaboration) was used to determine the surface morphology of the fruits. The smallest fruits were determined in Dittrichia graveolens (0.40 mm wide and 1.23 mm long), while the largest fruits were determined in Tragopogon buphthalmoides (25.88 mm long and 1.62 mm wide). The heaviest fruits were measured in Jurinea consanguinea (0.0065 gr) and the slightest fruits in Dittrichia graveolens (0.000062 gr) taxa.