Reporting Intersex Florets in Salix caprea L. (Salicaceae) from NE Anatolia

Abstract

Aim of the study: In the present paper, male or female catkins composed of several intersexes florets in four individuals (all in the same population) of Salix caprea are reported from Turkey for the first time. Study area: Roadsides at Kose Mountain in Gumushane (NE Anatolia) wherein Scots pine forest is dominant. Material and method: Plant materials were collected from the same population belong to goat willow during the excursion around Kose Mountain in 2017 and 2018. All materials consisting male, female and metamorfosans flowered shoots were first processed according to standard herbarium techniques. Main results: Metamorphosans or intersexes florets in Salix caprea were recorded for the first time from Turkey. Research highlights: In extremely rare cases, metamorphosans florets have been reported in several willow species distributed outside of Turkey. However, native goat willow individuals, in which these florets appear, were recorded here for the Turkish flora. Beside its possible reasons were discussed at local scale.