2026/06/18 by Olcay Düşen, Ramazan Süleyman Göktürk, Ergun Kaya +5 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Sesquiterpenes and Asteraceae Studies #Plant Ecology and Taxonomy Studies #Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
paper · pdf · doi:10.5735/085.063.0122
openalex publication_date 2026/06/18 · openalex created_date 2026/07/15 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/16
This study provides an integrative taxonomic assessment of Scorzonera ahmet-duranii and describes S. nikferica O.D.Düşen & Göktürk (Asteraceae) as a new species endemic to south-western Anatolia. Morphological comparisons of herbarium specimens from Turkish and European populations confirm that S. ahmet-duranii is distinct from S. humilis, with which it was previously synonymised. During field surveys conducted between 2017 and 2025 on Bozdağ Mountain (Denizli, Turkey), we encountered a morphologically unique population on serpentinite stony slopes at 1655 m a.s.l. The new species resembles S. ahmet-duranii but differs from it in stem indumentum, leaf morphology, floccosity, involucral phyllary proportions and ligule length. ISSR analyses of the studied taxa produced 117 loci with 75.2% polymorphism and revealed significantly higher interspecific genetic distances (0.699–0.732) compared to intraspecific variation (≤ 0.113). UPGMA clustering clearly separated individuals into two distinct clades. These integrative findings support recognition of S. nikferica as a distinct lineage. With fewer than 50 mature individuals and a restricted distribution, it is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) under IUCN criteria.