Numerical taxonomic study on Turkish Lathyrus (Leguminoseae)

Abstract

This study examines whether a satisfactory classification of Turkish Lathyrus species can be obtained from phenetic clustering based on external vegetative and floral morphological characters of herbarium specimens. Forty morphological characters for each species of the genus Lathyrus L. were scored and the data subjected to numerical taxonomic analyses. The results of this study suggest that there are basically nine sections (Orobus, Lathyrostylis, Aphaca, Nissolia, Orobon, Gorgonia, Clymenum, Cicercula and Lathyrus) which can be grouped under two subgenera, namely subgenus Lathyrus and subgenus Orobus, as far as the material belonging to 54 of the 58 species cited in Flora of Turkey allows. Sect. Gorgonia Dogan is described.