Morphological, ecological and palynological studies on Sempervivum sosnowskyi Ter-Chatsch (Crassulaceae) with a new distribution record from Turkey

This study presents investigations on the morphology, ecology and palynology of Sempervivum sosnowskyi Ter-Chatsch. For morphological studies, a detailed description of S. sosnowskyi is given. In addition, diagnostic morphological characters of similar species (S. armenum and S. glabrifolium) are discussed. The species, known as Georgian endemic, is reported for the first time from Turkey. It is restricted to Artvin region in Northeast Anatolia where it grows on metamorphic rocks and moist subalpine steppe. Notes are also presented on its ecology and conservation status. Pollen micromorphology of S. sosnowskyi and the other species is presented using light (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). A diagnostic key and a new distribution map of the species are also given.