Updated Distribution and Future Concerns of Crocus balansae

Year 2025, Volume: 21 Issue: 1, 129 - 132, 26.03.2025

Almıla Çiftçi

https://doi.org/10.18466/cbayarfbe.1562245

Abstract

Crocus balansae J.Gay ex Maw (Iridaceae) is a rare petaloid monocotyledon with fragmented habitats, under heavy anthropogenic pressure and climatic threat. Within the scope of this study, several herbariums were visited and previously collected specimens identified as C. balansae were examined morphologically. Field surveys were carried out to all addresses in the herbarium records, including some unidentifiable specimens, and to areas where populations are likely to be found. As a result of this study, it was determined that Crocus balansae populations are distributed in a narrower area than previously thought and the distribution area of C. balansae in Western Anatolia was updated. The challenges in accurate identification of Crocus balansae and the possible causes of misidentified plants were discussed. Field studies and observations revealed that some populations differ slightly morphologically from one another and that urbanization has caused the extinction of some populations. It was found that the type locality population had vanished as a result of the urbanization issue, making it impossible to compare samples from the type locality with populations that were later found using the techniques available today. The morphologically closest population to the species description is suggested in this paper.

Keywords

Anthropogenic pressure, conservation, Crocus, Iridaceae, urbanization

Ethical Statement

There are no ethical issues after the publication of this manuscript.

Supporting Institution

Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects Unit

Project Number

37723

Thanks

I would like to thank the 4th Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Manisa Provincial Branch Directorate, Spil National Park Directorate and Akhisar DKMP Directorate, Prof. Dr. Levent Şık, Rachel Mollman and Prof. Dr. Osman Erol for their support during the field studies. This study was supported by Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects Unit project number 37723.

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