Aromatic biodiversity among the flowering plant taxa of Turkey

Abstract

Flora of Turkey is rich and diverse with well over I 1000 flowering taxa recorded in the 9-volume set of Prof. Davis's monumental work and its two supplements. Chemical diversity among the flowering plants of Turkey is well documented in the recently published volume 11 of the Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands. Among the aromatic taxa, remarkable examples can be found in families such as Labiatae, Compositae, Umbelliferae, etc. The occurrence of volatile chemicals in aromatic plants is not only an indication of chemical diversity but may also help solve taxonomical problems is comprehensively studied genera. Aromatic diversity is illustrated with examples from genera such as Sideritis, Salvia, Thymus, Origanum, Satureja, Thymbra, Mentha, Micromeria, Ziziphora, Calamintha, Cyclotrichium, Acinos, Echinophora, Ferulago, Heracleum, Pimpinella, Tanacetum. and Betula. The economic implications of aromatic biodiversity and the importance of bioprospecting are highlighted.