Updated Distribution and Future Concerns of Crocus balansae

Crocus balansae J.Gay ex Maw (Iridaceae) is a rare petaloid monocotyledon with fragmented habitats, under heavy anthropogenic pressure and climatic threat. Within the scope of this study, several herbariums were visited and previously collected specimens identified as C. balansae were examined morphologically. Field surveys were carried out to all addresses in the herbarium records, including some unidentifiable specimens, and to areas where populations are likely to be found. As a result of this study, it was determined that Crocus balansae populations are distributed in a narrower area than previously thought and the distribution area of C. balansae in Western Anatolia was updated. The challenges in accurate identification of Crocus balansae and the possible causes of misidentified plants were discussed. Field studies and observations revealed that some populations differ slightly morphologically from one another and that urbanization has caused the extinction of some populations. It was found that the type locality population had vanished as a result of the urbanization issue, making it impossible to compare samples from the type locality with populations that were later found using the techniques available today. The morphologically closest population to the species description is suggested in this paper.