Abdel Aleem Bello (1) and Aline Batch*(1)
(1) . Plant Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
(*Corresponding author: E-Mail: alinebatch@hotmail.com, Tel: 0944826295).
Received: 5/11/2022 Accepted: 8/03/2023
Abstract:
There are 13 species of Geranium L. that belong to the Geraniaceae family. The aim of this research is to classify the species of this genus that are distributed in the city of Aleppo. The study included 33 qualitative traits and 29 quantitative traits, the most important of which are the characteristics of flowers, fruits, mericarps, pollen grains and seeds. The numerical classification was studied using the hierarchical cluster analysis algorithm in SPSS version (23). Five species and one class have been classified, belonging to four Section and under two Genus (G. sect. Geranium and Tuberosa of subgen. Geranium; sect. Batrachioidea and Roberta of subgen. Robertium). Species differed in most of the quantitative traits with significant differences, such as the length of the mericarp (G. libanoticum 5 mm and G. molle 1.85), The dimensions of the elongated seeds of G. purpureum were (2.09×0.99) mm, while the seeds of semi-spherical shape of G. rotundifolium were of dimensions (1.82×1.59) mm. and the length of the beak (G. purpureum 2.03 cm and G. molle 0.69). The studied species had 4 patterns of dispersal with high taxonomic value, and a taxonomic key was established based on the qualitative traits being more stable and less affected by environmental conditions. A Dendrogram was created for the qualitative and quantitative traits together, which differed from the qualitative Dendro, showing the effect of the interaction between genes and the environment. In this study, the presence of G. libanoticum was confirmed in the Syrian flora, and G. purpureum, G. molle var. album were recorded for the first time in Aleppo.
Key words: Geranium, Geraniaceae, mericarp, pollen grains, seeds, numerical taxonomy, Aleppo city.
Full paper in Arabic: pdf