Aromatic biodiversity among the flowering plant taxa of Turkey*
K. Hüsnü Can Baser
Anadolu University, Medicinal and Aromatic Plant and
Drug Research Centre (TBAM), 26470 Eskisehir, Turkey
Abstract: Flora of Turkey is rich and diverse with well over
11 000 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.
* Lecture presented at the 3rd IUPAC International
Conference on Biodiversity (ICOB-3), Antalya, Turkey, 3-8 November 2001.
Other presentations are presented in this issue, pp. 511–584.
** Corresponding author.
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