A morphometric study on Scorzonera L. taxa (Asteraceae) from northeast Anatolia

Phenetic traits of 39 populations belonging to 19 taxa of Scorzonera L. (Asteraceae) from north Anatolia were analyzed with the use of numerical methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that pubescence and length of achenes, the shape of outer phyllaries, and average length of flowering capitula, plant pubescence, root shape and state of the plant stem are the best variables to distinguish the examined taxa. In addition, it was also found that binary are more important than quantitative characters in discriminating the examined Scorzonera taxa. Numerical results based on 25 morphological characters were discussed and compared with traditional taxonomic treatments.