Two New Spiny Species of Dianthus (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey

Some Dianthus L. (Caryophyllaceae) specimens which have spiny epicalyx scales and spiny leaves have been collected from the Hanonu (Kastamonu) and the Mount Murat (Kutahya/Usak). As a result of the investigations, these specimens have been decided to be new species for the scientific world and they have been named as Dianthus varankii Hamzaoglu & Koc and Dianthus halisdemirii Hamzaoglu & Koc. The descriptions, ecological preferences, distribution information and conservation status of the new species was given. Also, they were compared with closely related species, D. aculeatus Hamzaoglu, based on its general morphology and seed micromorphology. The relationships between new species and their close relatives were determined based on the ITS sequences.