Morphological, anatomical and numerical studies on some Anchusa L. (Boragi?naceae) Taxa from Turkey

Abstract

This study used numerical methods to illustrate, describe and assess the taxonomic significance of morphological and anatomical features of three Anchusa species, Anchusa undulate subsp. hybrida (Ten.) Coutinho, A. azurea Miller var. azurea and A. pusilla Guşul., collected from Northern Turkey. In this morphological study, it was determined that the ratio of calyx lobe to the calyx length and the arrangement of the anthers in the corolla tube were important characters in separating the taxa morphologically. Anatomical studies supported these morphological observations. Further, statistical analysis showed that corolla tube length was not important as a taxonomic character. However, the ratio of calyx lobe length to calyx length was the most significant character in distinguishing the taxa. The first two principal components explained 45.69% of the total variance. Principal component analysis showed that no separation could be obtained among the species, although A. azurea specimens tended to compose a different group.