A new Onosma (Boraginaceae) species from Central Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

Onosma atila-ocakii sp. nova [Boraginaceae, Sect. Asterotricha (Boiss.) Gürke] is described and illustrated as a new species. It grows in a steppe on magnesite rocks in Eskişehir province (Central Anatolia, Turkey). Its description, photographs, and an identification key including related species (O. roussaei DC. and O. aucheriana DC.) are given. Diagnostic morphological and palynological characters of closely related species are compared and discussed. The characteristic features of indumentum and pollen structure are studied using a light microscope. The new species distinctly differs from related species because of its setose and adpressed retrorse–pilose indumentum, 2–3 rows of setules on foliar tubercles, 10–14 mm white petals and 2.1–2.6 × 1.7–2 mm dark brown nutlets. The International Union for Conservation of Nature threat category and observations on the ecology of the populations are noted. The distribution map of this new species and closely related species in Turkey is presented.

Full text

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A new Onosma (Boraginaceae) species from Central Anatolia,
Turkey
Onur Koyuncu •O
¨. Koray Yaylacı•
Kurtulus¸O
¨zgis¸i •Okan Sezer •Dervis¸O
¨ztu
¨rk
Received: 18 October 2012 / Accepted: 11 May 2013 / Published online: 4 June 2013
ÓSpringer-Verlag Wien 2013
Abstract Onosma atila-ocakii sp. nova [Boraginaceae,
Sect. Asterotricha (Boiss.) Gu
¨rke] is described and illus-
trated as a new species. It grows in a steppe on magnesite
rocks in Eskis¸ehir province (Central Anatolia, Turkey). Its
description, photographs, and an identification key
including related species (O. roussaei DC. and O. auche-
riana DC.) are given. Diagnostic morphological and pal-
ynological characters of closely related species are
compared and discussed. The characteristic features of
indumentum and pollen structure are studied using a light
microscope. The new species distinctly differs from related
species because of its setose and adpressed retrorse–pilose
indumentum, 2–3 rows of setules on foliar tubercles,
10–14 mm white petals and 2.1–2.6 91.7–2 mm dark
brown nutlets. The International Union for Conservation of
Nature threat category and observations on the ecology of
the populations are noted. The distribution map of this new
species and closely related species in Turkey is presented.
Keywords Biodiversity Boraginaceae Onosma 
Taxonomy Nomenclature
Introduction
The genus Onosma L. is a species-rich genus (Boragina-
ceae-Tribe Lithospermeae Dumort.) which includes about
150 species all around the world (Cecchi and Selvi 2009;
Kolarc
ˇik and Zozomova’-Lihova 2010). The genus is
distributed across Europe to East Asia and especially in
Western and Central Asia, the Mediterranean area, Ana-
tolia and Southeast Europe (Kolarc
ˇik and Zozomova’-
Lihova 2010). Turkey (Anatolia), Iran and Central Asia are
the high diversity centres of the genus Onosma (Tiwari
et al. 2011). Onosma grows in xeric, dry, cliffy, sunny,
rocky, sandy and steppe habitats (Peruzzi and Passalacqua
2008). This genus is perennial, usually suffruticose or
biennial herbs (Stevanovic
ˇet al. 2003; Akc¸in and Binzet
2011). The genus Onosma is a prominent example for
evolutionary history, and it has controversial taxonomic
treatments (Kolarc
ˇik and Zozomova’-Lihova 2010).
Onosma is an interesting genus and its systematics is
rather difficult to study. Most diagnostic features rely on
hair characteristics (Peruzzi and Passalacqua 2008). To
identify the sectional categories of the genus’ members, the
indumentum of leaves and stems has great importance
(O
¨zcan 2009). The main taxonomic marker within the
genus is a sort of indumentum composed of specific tric-
homes called stellate setae (Ball 1972). Also, some other
key features are shape, size and colours of the corolla, size
of the calyx, number of flowers in cymes, nutlet and pollen
morphology (Qureshi and Qaiser 1987; Maggi et al. 2008;
Binzet and Akc¸in 2009a; Akc¸in and Binzet 2011; Binzet
2011; Mehrabian et al. 2012). Moreover, the calyx features
show variation between flowering and fruiting periods
(Aytac¸ and Tu
¨rkmen 2011). The genus Onosma has com-
plicated patterns of morphological and karyological vari-
ation (Teppner 1991,1996;Ma
´rtonfi et al. 2008; Nazaire
and Hufford 2012). Although some molecular studies have
been carried out, the systematic and evolutionary aspects of
Onosma are still poorly known (Hilger et al. 2004; Weig-
end et al. 2009; Kolarc
ˇik and Zozomova’-Lihova 2010;
Nazaire and Hufford 2012). It has been reported that the
present classification appears to be partly artificial and in
O. Koyuncu (&)O
¨. K. YaylacıK. O
¨zgis¸i O. Sezer 
D. O
¨ztu
¨rk
Biology Department, Art and Science Faculty, Eskis¸ ehir
Osmangazi University, Mes¸ elik, 26480 Eskis¸ehir, Turkey
e-mail: okoyuncu@ogu.edu.tr
123
Plant Syst Evol (2013) 299:1839–1847
DOI 10.1007/s00606-013-0839-1

need of modern biosystematic revision (Riedl 1978;O
¨zcan
2009).
Today, Onosma is composed of three groups, originally
described as sections, but at present these are recognized
only as informal groups: (1) Haplotricha, with basal leaves
covered by simple setae only; (2) Asterotricha, with basal
leaves covered by stellate bristles or asterosetae (i.e. along
tubercled seta with several shorter rays at its base); (3)
Heterotricha, with both simple setae and asterosetae on the
basal leaves (Boissier 1879; Peruzzi et al. 2004; Peruzzi
and Passalacqua 2008).
The genus Onosma was revised by Riedl (1978) for the
flora of Turkey. According to him, Onosma is represented
by 95 taxa in Turkey. However, since that revision several
new taxa have been added in the last three decades: O.
propontica Aznavour, O. kaheirei Teppner, O. taurica
Palas var. viridis Borbas, O. mirabilis A. P. Khokhrjakov,
O. nydeggeri Hub.-Mor., O. mersinana Riedl, Binzet &
Orcan, O. riedliana Binzet and Orcan, O. beyazoglui
Kandemir and Tu
¨rkmen and O. aksoyii. Today, the genus
Onosma is represented about 105 taxa in Turkey and the
rate of endemism is 50 %. Anatolia is a diversity centre for
the genus Onosma (Riedl 1978; Davis et al. 1988;Yıldır-
ımlı2000; Riedl et al. 2005; Binzet and Orcan 2007a,
2009;O
¨zhatay et al. 2009; Kandemir and Tu
¨rkmen 2010;
Aytac¸ and Tu
¨rkmen 2011; Binzet and Akc¸in 2012).
Detailed studies about Turkish Onosma are very
restricted (Binzet and Orcan 2009). Some anatomical and
ecological properties (Selvi and Bigazzi 2001; Akc¸in and
Engin 2005; Akc¸in 2007; Binzet and Orcan 2009; Binzet
and Akc¸in 2012), the structure and patterns of epidermal
cells of nutlets (Akc¸in 2007; Binzet and Akc¸in 2009a;
Akc¸in and Binzet 2011), palynological (Binzet and Orcan
2003), karyological (Teppner 1991,1996) and chemo-
taxonomical features have been reported and some signif-
icant taxonomic differences between Onosma species have
been compared (O
¨zcan 2008,2009).
In this study, the new species O. atila-ocakii O.Koyuncu
& Yaylacı(Asterotricha group) from Central Anatolia is
described.
Materials and methods
The Onosma samples were collected during flowering and
fruiting periods in 2010–2012 from Nemli district, Eskis¸ehir
province (Central Anatolia, Turkey) (Fig. 1). The plant is
Asterotrichous (foliar tubercles 2–3 rows stellate). Collected
Onosma samples were compared with keys and descriptions
reported in Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands (Riedl
1978), Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis
(De Candolle 1846), Flora Orientalis (Boissier 1879), Flora
Europaea (Ball 1972), Flora Iranica (Riedl 1967), Flora of
the USSR. (Shishkin 1974), Flora of Syria, Palestine and
Sinai (Dinsmore 1932), Mountain Flora of Greece (Teppner
1991b) and other related literatures (Hayek and Markgraf
1970; Feinbrun-Dothan 1978; Ge-Ling et al. 1995;Gu
¨ner
2000; Riedl et al. 2005;Tu
¨rkmen 2006; Binzet 2007;
Teppner 2008). Samples are compared with Onosma species
in ANK, GAZI and HUB herbaria (Table 1).
Photos of some morphological parts (foliar tubercles and
nutlets) were taken with a Nikon SZ120 and the
Fig. 1 Distribution map of Onosma atila-ocakii (filled circle), O. aucheriana (filled square) and O. roussaei (filled traingle) in Turkey
1840 O. Koyuncu et al.
123

morphological characteristic sets were compared with
closely related species (O. aucheriana and O. roussaei)
(Figs. 4,5,6).
In addition, palynological investigations were performed.
Pollen material was obtained from fresh and herbarium
materials. The pollen morphologies of taxa were investi-
gated by light microscope (LM). Faegri and Iversen’s ter-
minology were used for the naming of the exine layers
(Faegri and Iversen 1964). Under light microscope the pol-
len acquired from the samples was investigated by Wode-
house (1935) and Erdtman (1952) methods. Pollen
identifications were obtained by prior binocular microscope.
The materials are prepared according to Wodehouse’s and
Erdtman’s methods; the exine and intine thicknesses per-
taining to taxa are measured a minimum 20 and a maximum
50 times. From these obtained measurements, a natural
mathematical mean is calculated. Microphotographs were
taken at the Eskis¸ehir Osmangazi University Science and
Art Faculty, Department of Biology by Kameram
TM
digital
camera and a Nikon 80i microscope (Fig. 7).
Results
The new species, O. atila-ocakii, grows only in Central
Anatolia. Distribution map of O. atila-ocakii and related
taxa are shown in Fig. 1.
Taxonomic treatment
Onosma atila-ocakii O. Koyuncu & Yaylacısp. nov.
(Figs. 2,3), Asterotricha group.
Fig. 2 The general appearance of Onosma atila-ocakii in nature
Fig. 3 The inflorescence of Onosma atila-ocakii in nature
Table 1 The morphological differences between Onosma atila-ocakii,O. aucheriana and O. roussaei
O. aucheriana O. roussaei O. atila-ocakii
Habit Perennial, with several flowering stems Perennial, with several flowering stems Perennial, dwarf caespitose
Stems Erect 10–30 cm, simple Erect, 10–40 cm, simple Ascending to erect, 5–15 cm, simple
Indumentum Setose and adpressed retrorse–pilose Patent-setose and adpressed retrorse–pilose Setose and adpressed retrorse–pilose
Foliar tubercles 1 row of setules 3–4 rows of setules 2–3 rows of setules
Leaves lamina 18–48 94–10 mm 40–45 96–11 mm 7–11 92–3 mm
Bract 10–12 mm, lanceolate 9–13 mm, lanceolate 7–9 mm, narrowly linear
Pedicel 2–3 mm 1–4 mm 2–3 mm
Sepal 10–12 mm, acute, not revolute 8–11 mm, acute, revolute 7–10 mm, obtuse, not revolute
Petal 16–19 mm, white, cream, sulphur yellow,
cylindirical–campanulate
12–16 mm, yellow at first, becoming tile
red, cylindirical–campanulate
10–14 mm, white, cylindirical–
campanulate
Nutlet Ovoid with lateral compressed beak,
2–2.5 91.75–2.2 mm, smooth, pale
brownish with dark brown spots
Ovoid, shortly beaked, 3–3.5 92.5–3 mm,
smooth, cream
Ovoid, shortly beaked,
2.1–2.6 91.7–2 mm, smooth, dark
brown
Flowering May–August April–July May–July
Fruiting June–September May–August June–August
A new Onosma (Boraginaceae) species from Central Anatolia, Turkey 1841
123

Type
Turkey, B3 Eskis¸ehir : Eskis¸ ehir to Ku
¨tahya road, Nemli
village, steppe on magnesite rocks, magnesite mine envi-
ronment, 15.vi.2011, 39°43051.200N, 30813016.500E,
1,014 m, holotype: OUFE 16469 (isotypes: ANK and
GAZI).
1. Tubercles with several rows of setules
2. Flowers yellow at first, becoming tile red, stellate hairs
with 30–40 rays, nutlets 3–3.5 92.5–3 mm, cream—
O. roussaei
3. Flowers white, stellate hairs with 20–30 rays, nutlets
2.1–2.5 91.65–2 mm, dark brown—O. atila-ocakii
Diagnosis
Onosma atila-ocakii is similar to O. roussaei. It is dwarf
caespitose (not with several flowering stems), ascending to
erect, 5–15 cm (not 10–40 cm); indumentum setose and
adpressed retrorse–pilose (not patent-setose); foliar tuber-
cles 2–3 rows of setules (not 3–4 rows of setules); leaves
lamina 7–11 92–3 mm (not 40–45 96–11 mm); bracts
Fig. 6 Nutlets of investigated Onosma taxa. aO. aucheriana,bO. roussaei,cO. atila-ocakii
Fig. 4 Asterosetae on the basal leaves of investigated Onosma taxa. aO. aucheriana,bO. roussaei,cO. atila-ocakii
Fig. 5 Asterosetae on stems of investigated Onosma taxa. aO. aucheriana,bO. roussaei,cO. atila-ocakii
1842 O. Koyuncu et al.
123

7–9 mm (not 9–13 mm); pedicel 2 mm (not 1–4 mm);
sepals 7–10 mm (not 8–11 mm); petals 10–14 mm (not
12–16 mm); white (not yellow at first, becoming tile red);
nutlets 2.1–2.6 91.7–2 mm (not 3–3.5 92.5–3 mm);
dark brown (not cream) (Table 1).
Description
Perennial, dwarf caespitose; ascending to erect, 5–15 cm,
simple; below brownish, above greenish to yellowish and
leafy; with stellately setuled tubercles, setose and shortly
adpressed retrorse–pilose. Leaves crowded at base. Basal
and lower cauline leaves 7–11 92–3 mm, oblanceolate to
spathulate; with strongly revolute margins, obtuse; covered
with densely adpressed to sub-adpressed setae with 2–3 rows
of setules tubercles. Middle and upper cauline leaves are
similar. Inflorescence of 2–4 cymes and each 2–3 flowered.
Bracts 7–9 mm long, narrowly linear and indumentum
spreading setae with 2–3 rows of setules tubercles. Pedicels
c. 2 mm in flower, 6 mm in fruit. Calyx 7–10 mm, not
accrescent in fruit with narrowly linear lobes, obtuse. Cor-
olla white, 10–14 mm, cylindrical–campanulate, pubescent,
slightly lobed, lobes revolute; annulus glabrous. Stamens 5,
shorter than corolla, filaments c. 5.5–6.5 mm, anthers linear
c. 4–4.5 mm, Style 15–16 mm; 1.5–2.5 mm, longer than the
corolla. Stigma very small and distinctly bilobed. Nutlets
2.1–2.6 91.7–2 mm, ovoid, shortly beaked, smooth and
dark brown, Fl. 5–7, Fr. 6–8. (Table 1; Figs. 1,2).
This species is named in honour of Prof. Dr. Atila Ocak,
who is expert on Flora of Eskis¸ehir at the Faculty of Art
and Science, Department of Biology, Eskis¸ehir Osmangazi
University, Turkey.
Onosma atila-ocakii is closely related to O. aucheriana
DC. and O. roussaei DC. according to Flora of Turkey and
East Aegean Islands (Riedl 1978). It has an ascending to
erect stem which is approximately 5–15 cm in height. The
stems of O. aucheriana and O. roussaei are erect. The stem
indumentum of O. atila-ocakii and O. aucheriana is setose
and adpressed retrorse–pilose. The stem indumentum of O.
roussaei is patent-setose (Table 1; Fig. 4).
Table 2 Palynological morphometric parametres of Onosma au-
cheriana (lm)
Pollen type: Syncolporate
Pollen shape: Subprolate P/E: 1.15 (W) Subprolate P/E: 1.21 (E)
Fresh pollen (W) Dried pollen (E)
MrMr
P 14.62 ±0.43 14.48 ±0.78
E 12.66 ±0.47 11.94 ±0.42
plg 2.50 ±0.74 2.35 ±0.56
plt 2.27 ±0.60 2.19 ±0.40
clg 10.02 ±2.30 8.23 ±0.91
clt 2.82 ±0.46 2.70 ±0.47
ex 0.70 ±0.15 0.86 ±0.13
i 0.62 ±0.20 – –
t 2.91 ±0.35 4.40 ±0.57
Structure: Tectate
Sculpture: Granulate–scabrate, granules small and sparsely
Aperture: Syncolporate
Table 3 Palynological morphometric parametres of Onosma rous-
saei (lm)
Pollen type: Syncolporate
Pollen shape: Prolate P/E: 1.36 (W) Subprolate P/E: 1.32 (E)
Fresh pollen (W) Dried pollen (E)
MrMr
P 16.33 ±0.41 16.00 ±1.11
E 12.00 ±0.65 12.13 ±0.93
plg 3.25 ±0.40 3.41 ±0.86
plt 3.08 ±0.51 3.25 ±0.69
clg 11.13 ±0.59 10.80 ±0.84
clt 3.41 ±0.49 3.60 ±0.55
ex 0.44 ±0.06 0.76 ±0.12
i 0.42 ±0.05 – –
t 2.82 ±0.32 2.91 ±0.49
Structure: Tectate
Sculpture: Granulate–scabrate, granules big and densely
Aperture: Syncolporate
Table 4 Palynological morphometric parametres of Onosma atila-
ocakii (lm)
Pollen type: Syncolporate
Pollen shape: Subprolate P/E: 1.19 (W) Subprolate P/E: 1.15 (E)
Fresh pollen (W) Dried pollen (E)
MrMr
P 14.00 ±0.76 13.60 ±0.66
E 11.76 ±0.60 11.77 ±0.41
plg 2.75 ±0.50 3.00 ±0.89
plt 2.50 ±0.58 2.33 ±0.51
clg 8.15 ±0.88 7.50 ±0.65
clt 2.61 ±0.49 2.64 ±0.49
ex 0.80 ±0.17 0.85 ±0.15
i 0.60 ±0.13 – –
t 4.00 ±0.76 4.50 ±0.97
Structure: Tectate
Sculpture: Granulate–scabrate, granules small and sparsely
Aperture: Syncolporate
A new Onosma (Boraginaceae) species from Central Anatolia, Turkey 1843
123

The leaves of O. atila-ocakii are 7–11 92–3 mm,
crowded at the base, oblanceolate to spathulate, with rev-
olute margins, obtuse and covered with densely adpressed
to subadpressed setae with 2–3 rows of setules tubercles.
The leaves of O. aucheriana are 18–48 94–10 mm,
oblong–spathulate to oblong, with revolute margins,
obtuse, adpressed to sub-adpressed setae with 1 row of
setule tubercles. The leaves of O. roussaei are
40–45 96–11 mm, linear to sub-lanceolate, with sub-
revolute margins, acute, adpressed to sub-adpressed setae
with 3–4 rows of setules tubercles (Table 1; Fig. 5).
The nutlet size of O. atila-ocakii is smaller than other
related taxa. O. aucheriana nutlets have a distinctly lateral
compressed beak. O. atila-ocakii and O. roussaei nutlets
are shortly beaked. O. atila-ocakii nutlets are dark brown
coloured. O. aucheriana nutlets are pale brownish with
dark brown spots and O. roussaei nutlets are cream. The
nutlets of each taxa are ovoid shaped and the surfaces are
smooth (Table 1; Fig. 6).
Specimens examined
Onosma aucheriana
Five fresh and eleven dried samples which collected from
different localities were examined. B5-Kayseri: Sultan
reeds, Yahyalı-Develi road, Yazıbag
˘larıdistrict, 1,071 m,
M. O
¨ztekin 1677, 06.iix.1994 (HUB) ; B6-Sivas: S¸ arkıs¸la,
Karababa Mountain, Kazıkgec¸mez district, 2,100 m, B.
O
¨zu
¨dog
˘ru 1538, 20.iix.2007 (HUB); A2-I
˙stanbul: Pas¸ako
¨y
O
¨merli Dam, 200 m, E. Yurdakulol 361, 25.v.2001
(ANK). B4-Ankara: Ankara-Haymanaroad, 10 km, 1,150 m,
Fig. 7 Pollen microphotography of investigated Onosma taxa. a–
cEquatorial view of a non acetolysed pollen in LM; d–f polar view of
a non acetolysed pollen in LM; g–iequatorial view of an acetolysed
pollen in LM; j,g,hpolar view of an acetolysed pollen in LM. a,d,g,
jO. aucheriana,b,e,h,kO. roussaei,c,f,i,lO. atila-ocakii
1844 O. Koyuncu et al.
123

Y. Akman 12843, 08.vi.1984 (ANK); B4-Ankara: C¸ ubuk,
Ovacık-Saraycık Villages, Yatc¸a pınarıdistrict, 1,250–
1,380 m, E. Du
¨ndar 1993, 03.iix.1992 (GAZI). B5-Nevs¸ehir:
U
¨c¸hisar, U
¨c¸hisar Mountain, 1,450 m, H. Duman 4973,
23.v.1981 (GAZI). A9-Artvin: Ardanuc¸, 609 m, Tu
¨rkmen
072, 07.vi.2005.
Onosma roussaei
Three fresh and eight dried samples which collected from
different localities were examined. A5-C¸ ankırı: Irmakka-
ralısıvillage, 800 m, Ali A. Do
¨nmez 1708, 31.iii.1990
(HUB); B4-Ankara: Beytepe, 1,000 m, Erik 1150,
22.v.1975 (HUB); B7-Malatya, 1,900 m, Balls 2273,
12.v.1935 (ANK); C6-Gaziantep: Du
¨lu
¨k Baba, 1,100 m,
Davis et. Hedge 27865, 12.v.1957 (ANK). A7-Bayburt:
Bayburt-Askale 1,640 m, Tu
¨rkmen 035, 30.vi.2004.
Onosma atila-ocakii
Thirteen fresh and seven dried samples were examined.
B3-Eskis¸ehir: Eskis¸ ehir to Ku
¨tahya road, Nemli village:
Koyuncu 2772, 15.vi.2011; Koyuncu 2814, ibid.,
27.v.2011; Koyuncu 2982, ibid., 24.vi.2012; Koyuncu
3044, ibid., 10.vi.2012; Koyuncu 3072, ibid., 04.vii.2012.
Palynological results
Between the studied taxa, O. atila-ocakii has the smallest
pollen grains (on average 14.00–11.75 913.60–11.77 lm),
O. aucheriana has intermediate pollen grains (on average
14.62–12.66 914.48–11.94 lm) and O. roussaei has the
largest pollen grains (on average 16.33–12.00 916.00–
12.13 lm). All pollen grains are heteropolar, syncolporate
and sub-prolate shaped (W, E) except O. roussaei, which has
prolate (W) in shaped. The sculptures of all pollen grains are
granulate–scabrate. Although granules are small and sparse
at O. atila-ocakii and O. aucheriana, granules are big and
dense at O. roussaei. Exine structures of pollen grains are
tectate in all investigated taxa (Tables 2,3,4; Fig. 7).
Population, distribution and ecology
Onosma atila-ocakii is endemic to Central Anatolia,
Turkey and it belongs to the Irano-Turanian phytogeo-
graphical region. The species is only known from the type
locality (Fig. 1). The population covers approximately
8km
2
and it consists of approximately 175 healthy indi-
viduals. Its habitat is a magnesite steppe where it grows
along with Ziziphora tenuior L., Paronychia dudleyi
Chaudhri, Allium hirtovaginatum Kunth, Cymbolaena
griffithii (A. Gray) Wagenitz, Astragalus vulnerariae DC.,
Rumex acetosella L., Herniaria incana Lam., Saponaria
glutinosa M.Bieb., Saponaria pamphylica Boiss. et Heldr.,
Hypericum hyssopifolium Chaix, Alyssum linifolium Ste-
phan ex Willd., Helianthemum nummularium (L.) Miller
subsp. lycaonicum Coode et Cullen, Berberis vulgaris L.
and Dianthus webbianus Parl. ex Vis. (Fig. 1).
Recommended IUCN threat category
We estimate that the species may undergo a reduction of
over 80 % of the population size within the next few years,
and thus it is strongly threatened with extinction in the wild
if no protection measures are taken. On the basis of the
criteria adopted by IUCN (2001), we recommend its
inclusion in the following category: CR B2ab(v).
Discussion
Turkey is one of the richest countries in Eurasia in terms of
vascular plant diversity. The main reasons for this are
climate variety, geomorphological structure, soil diversity,
different variations of altitudes and its position at the
junction of three flora regions (Euro-Siberian, Mediterra-
nean and Irano-Turanian). When all these factors are
combined, it provides many properties for the plants to
grow and increase the plant diversity. The flora of Turkey
has about 12,000 vascular plant taxa and these numbers are
still increasing (Tarikahya and Erik 2004; Avcı2005).
Anatolia is an important centre of origin for the genus
Onosma with approximately 70 % of the species. The
genus Onosma shows considerable taxonomic problems
(Ball 1972). Recently, such as molecular, evolutionary,
chemotaxonomical and palynological studies have tried to
solve this controversial taxonomy of the genus Onosma.
Molecular studies, performed on the genus Onosma in
recent years, have supported traditional taxonomic studies
for this genus. Traditional taxonomic studies on Onosma
rely on the indumentum type, structures of the calyx, cor-
olla, nutlet and pollen morphology (Riedl 1978; Peruzzi
et al. 2004; Peruzzi and Passalacqua 2008; Teppner 2008;
O
¨zcan 2009; Kolarc
ˇik and Zozomova’-Lihova 2010).
Generally, steppe vegetation is the dominant vegetation
type in Eskis¸ehir province. Due to the climatic, geo-
graphical, topographical and geological features of
Eskis¸ehir, it has high floristic diversity. Until today, about
1,500 taxa have been identified from Eskis¸ehir and
approximately 300 of these are endemic to Turkey. In the
last decade, about 50 endemic taxa have been identified
from Eskis¸ehir and 13 of these are only endemic to
Eskis¸ehir (Ocak et al. 2010).
Onosma atila-ocakii is related to O. thracica Velen.,
O. bracteosa Hausskn. & Bornm., O. armenum DC.,
O. echioides (L.) L., O. rigidum Ledeb. and closely related
A new Onosma (Boraginaceae) species from Central Anatolia, Turkey 1845
123

to O. aucheriana DC. and O. roussaei DC. because of the
habit, indumentum of leaves, corolla size and calyx size
according to Riedl (1978).
Onosma thracica, O. bracteosa and O. armenum have
different indumentum type; leaf margins, calyx size, cor-
olla colour and size from O. atila-ocakii.O. echioides have
much longer leaves and have wider corollas than O. atila-
ocakii. Nutlets of O. rigidum are reticulate–rugose with
pronounced shoulders. Also O. atila-ocakii found in geo-
graphically distant areas from O. thracica, O. echioides and
O. rigidum (Riedl 1978).
According to our observations, O. atila-ocakii and O.
aucheriana have the same indumentum type (setose and
adpressed retrorse–pilose). However, the indumentum of
O. roussaei differs because of the patent-setose. The basic
difference between the indumentum of O. atila-ocakii and
O. aucheriana is in the number of rows of the setules.
Although O. aucheriana has one row of setules, O. atila-
ocakii and O. roussaei have several rows of setules. O.
atila-ocakii has 2–3 rows of setules and O. roussaei has
3–4 rows of setules (Figs. 4,5). Differences between in-
dumentum types of investigated taxa are very important
and remarkable for genus Onosma (Peruzzi et al. 2004;
Mengoni et al. 2006; Binzet and Orcan 2007b; Teppner
2008; Binzet and Akc¸in 2009b; Kolarc
ˇik and Zozomova’-
Lihova 2010; Porto et al. 2012).
Palynological studies show that the pollen of O. au-
cheriana and O. roussaei is bigger than O. atila-ocakii.
Although O. roussaei has prolate (W) pollen grains in
shape, O. atila-ocakii and O. aucheriana are sub-prolate
(W, E) in shape. The examined taxa have palynological
similarities, but some differences have also been deter-
mined too (Tables 2,3,4; Fig. 7). The data obtained from
palynological studies are enough to be used for discrimi-
nation of species as evidenced in other studies concerning
the genus Onosma (Maggi et al. 2008; Binzet 2011; Me-
hrabian et al. 2012).
Differences in nutlet morphology between investigated
taxa show that these taxa belong to different species (Riedl
1978; Binzet and Akc¸in 2009a; Akc¸in and Binzet 2011).
The population of O. atila-ocakii is isolated from pop-
ulations of relative Onosma species by geographical iso-
lation mechanisms (Kolarc
ˇik and Ma
´rtonfi 2006; Cecchi
et al. 2011). It is a narrow endemic species with a very
local distribution, often restricted to single areas.
Soil and climate characteristics are important factors
affecting plant diversity. Serpentine areas are xeric and
sterile substratum for vegetation, and thus this factor is a
major driving force for plant evolution (Cecchi et al. 2011).
Onosma atila-ocakii was found growing in steppe in very
dry and rocky soils. The high number of endemics indicates
the importance of serpentine habitats as centres for floristic
differentiation and speciation (Stevanovic
ˇet al. 2003).
According to all the performed studies, morphological,
palynological differences, ecological and population fea-
tures are distinct characters to classify Onosma atila-ocakii
as a species new to science.
Acknowledgments We would like to thank Dr. Zafer Tu
¨rkmen in
Giresun University Department of Biology for supports.
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