A descriptive study of some Trifolium L. (Clover) taxa grown in Bolu Province

Abstract

Micromorphological characteristics of 13 Trifolium species, which are grown in the province of Bolu, were examined using ascanning electron microscope (SEM). The morphological characteristics determined from the study were subjected to morphometricanalyses and their variation spectrums were defined. Tricolporate pollen grains showed two pollen shapes, prolate and subprolate,according to equatorial view. The smallest size of polar axis length (18.00 μm) was found in T. micranthum Viv. from sectionChronosemium Ser.; the largest (88.95 μm) was found in T. hirtum All. from section Trifolium L.. Statistically, the smallest seeds werefound in T. resupinatum L. from the section Vesicaria Crantz. with an average size of 1.01 mm. However, the largest seeds were observedin T. hirtum species from the section Trifolium with an average size of 2.04 mm. The results gave similar groupings in cluster (CA) and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). Main taxa were grouped under sectionTrifolium; T. campestre Schreb. and T. micranthum produced section Chronosemium; T. physodes Steven & M. Bieb. and T. resupinatumformed the section Vesicaria; and finally, T. nigrescens Viv. presented the section Lotoidea Crantz.. Besides taxonomical classification,pollen and seed properties of 13 Trifolium taxa were also investigated.