European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

BOTANY, TAXONOMY AND CYTOLOGY OF NEW SPECIES CROCUS BAYTOPI

Dr. R. B. Saxena*

ABSTRACT

The genus crocus consists currently of about 160 recognized species, small, corm bearing, perennial species having an old world distribution, primarily in mediterranean- west Europe and NW Africa to west China, with the center of species diversity on the Balkan Peninsula and in Turkey. Recent phylogenetic analysis proved several infrageneric units with in the genus crocus to be para or phyletic. In an attempt to arrive at a system of crocus that closely reflects species relationships, here phylogenetic, morphometric, geographic and nomenclatorial data for the species of narrower defined, monophyletic crocus baytopi series. Crocus series baytopi are closely related, and are difficult to be separated taxonomically and have complex cytology. Botany, infra-specific taxa, distribution, ecology, phenology, description and chromosome counts of crocus baytopi series are proved with key to their identification.

Keywords: Crocus, Geographic area, Taxonomy, Chromosome, Cytology, Phenology, Baytopi series.