This study presents macro- and micromorphological characters, including fruit and seed shape, size, colour, fruiting pedicel size, fruit hair and density, seed coat pattern, epidermal cell shape, and anticlinal and periclinal cell walls. The results showed that the morphological characteristics of the fruit and seed could be used as criteria to distinguish genera and tribes. | A. KAYA, M. ÜNAL, F. ÖZGÖKÇE, B. DOĞAN, E. MARTİN Research Article Turk J Bot 35 (2011) 653-662 © TÜBİTAK doi: Fruit and seed morphology of six species previously placed in Malcolmia (Brassicaceae) in Turkey and their taxonomic value Ayla KAYA1, Murat ÜNAL2,*, Fevzi ÖZGÖKÇE3, Bekir DOĞAN4, Esra MARTİN5 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, 26470 Eskişehir - TURKEY 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Yüzüncü Yıl University, 65080 Van - TURKEY 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Yüzüncü Yıl University, 65080 Van - TURKEY 4 Department of Science Education, Education Faculty, Selçuk University, 42090 Konya - TURKEY 5 Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Selçuk University, 42090 Konya - TURKEY Received: Accepted: Abstract: The fruit and seed morphologies of 6 species previously placed in the genus Malcolmia were examined with stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to determine the significance of fruit and seed features as taxonomic characters. This study presents macro- and micromorphological characters, including fruit and seed shape, size, colour, fruiting pedicel size, fruit hair and density, seed coat pattern, epidermal cell shape, and anticlinal and periclinal cell walls. The results showed that the morphological characteristics of the fruit and seed could be used as criteria to distinguish genera and tribes. The investigated features of specimens indicated that Malcolmia chia (L.) DC. and M. flexuosa (Sibth. & Sm.) Sibth. & Sm. should remain in the genus that belongs to the tribe Anastaticeae. Malcolmia crenulata (DC.) Boiss. and M. exacoides (DC.) Spreng. belong to the genus Zuvanda (Dvořák) Askerova of the tribe Conringieae. Finally, Malcolmia africana (L.) and M. intermedia . belong to the genus Strigosella Boiss. of the tribe Euclidieae. A key is provided for the identification
