Adil GÜNER, Vehbi ESER - optima
Adil GÜNER, Vehbi ESER - optima
Adil GÜNER, Vehbi ESER - optima
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PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN IRANO-<br />
TURANIAN AND MEDITERRANEAN FLORAS IN ROCKY<br />
HABITATS OF THE E MEDITERRANEAN<br />
Gerald PAROLLY<br />
Freie Universität, Botanischer Garten & Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Germany, g.parolly@bgbm.org<br />
The present contribution reviews the role of the Irano-Turanian element in the composition of the<br />
lithophytic high mountain vegetation of the wider Taurus range (Tauric System) under a<br />
community-based focus. The flora of the area is predominantly Mesogean. Due to the scrappy<br />
and heterogeneous set of data available, the study is largely a gap analysis, comprising the<br />
evaluation of (1) chorotype spectra of selected scree, rock, meltwater and wind-swept cushion<br />
communities; (2) over-all chorotype spectra of mountain massifs and (3) the distribution patterns<br />
and, whenever possible, the evolution of selected Irano-Anatolian or Irano-Anatolian-E<br />
Mediterranean genera such Heldreichia, which are associated more closely with lithophytic upland<br />
habitats. Compared to the expected clear E–W trends (decreasing proportions of Irano-<br />
Turanian geo-elements and geno-elements westwards), the altitudinal and ecological trends are<br />
more complex due to the occurrence of two ecologically differentiated groups: The prevailing<br />
xerophytic Irano-Anatolian element is opposed by a smaller group of hygro- to mesomorphic<br />
species with often wide Irano-Turanian ranges and Central Asian links, which are confined to<br />
damp places. In floro-genetic terms, both groups have also developed a number of local<br />
endemics. Irano-Turanian endemism (e.g., Anchonium, Dionysia, Graellsia, Michauxia,<br />
Vavilovia) is generally very low within the lithophytic vegetation of the Taurus System at generic<br />
level, but gains significance at species level particularly in the east with high proportions of<br />
endemics of Irano-Turanian origin (25-45 %) within the chorotype spectra. Such mainly<br />
Mesogean genera with many endemic species in Anatolian rocky habitats include, e.g. Silene,<br />
Gypsophila, Alyssum, Aethionema s.l., Erysimum, Isatis, Thlaspi s.l., Onosma, Nepeta,<br />
Tanacetum, Centaurea s.l., Scorzonera s.l., Tulipa and Allium. However, in the Western and<br />
Central Taurus, the majority of the massifs support lithophytic vegetation, on which the Irano-<br />
Turanian elements mainly encroach as differential species from the zonal units on the scree, rock<br />
and meltwater communities.<br />
Keywords: Chorology, evolution, genoelement, high mountain vegetation<br />
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31<br />
Oral Lectures