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Comparative anatomical study on eight Scilla taxa (S. bifolia, S. melaina, S. siberica subsp. armena, S. leepii, S. ingridae, S. mesopotamica, S. autumnalis and S. cilicica) growing in Turkey was made using light microscopy techniques. Leaf and scape anatomical properties of the taxa were compared and relationships among taxa were determined. In anatomical studies, paraffin method was used. The cross-sections of the scape, leaves and surface-sections the leaves of these taxa were taken and photographed. Length and width measurements of stomata in the upper and lower surfaces of leaves were made and the mean and standard devition values of stomata were calculated. Raphida crystals were found in the mesophyll of all taxa. On both surfaces of leaves, anomocytic type stomata were observed. The different and similar anatomical characters in the leaf and scape were determined and the taxa were classified into three groups; such as (1) S. ingridae, S. mesopotamica, S. melaina, and S. leepii are independent species with close relationships; (2) S. bifolia, S. siberica subsp. armena and S.cilicica are very close taxa; (3) S. autumnalis is different from other investigated taxa. Also, these taxa can be distinguished as mesophyll type; isolateral (S. bifolia, S. cilicica and S. siberica subsp. armena) and unifacial (S. melaina, S.leepii, S. ingridae, S. mesopotamica and S. autumnalis). According to our data, S. bifolia was considered as a complex species of Scilla genus in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean region is abundant with geophyte species, many of which have been developed as ornamentals. In recent years attempts were made to grow Scilla hyacinthoides L. (Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae) commercially, both as a cut flower and as a water-saving ornamental geophyte. Optimizing commercial production of S. hyacinthoides requires the study of growth and development of the vegetative plant, as well as the control of flower bud initiation and development. Like most Mediterranean plants, S. hyacinthoides life cycle is attuned to the annual rhythm which alternates between hot and dry summer, and cool and rainy winter. Plants are dormant during summer. In autumn the apical meristem becomes active and either begins producing leaves for the next season, or initiates inflorescence development. After the onset of inflorescence development, a new apical meristem is formed at the axil of the youngest leaf. Frequently, two apices are formed; one of them becomes a daughter bulb. Intrabulb development of the inflorescence was studied by histology and electron microscopy. The flowering occurs in spring. Floral initiation is temperature-dependent and is inhibited by low temperatures, but inflorescence differentiation and elongation is inhibited by high temperatures. Flowers are self-incompatible and exhibit several polymorphic traits, probably important in pollinator attraction. In summary, current research provides a basis for future studies on the florogenesis and ecophysiology in Scilla , as well as enabling future fine tuning of cultivation protocols for the flower industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology and phylogeny of anther smut specimens on Tractema verna collected in the United Kingdom were investigated using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and partial rDNA sequence analyses. The anther smut of Tractema verna shows similarity to Antherospora eucomis, A. scillae, A. tourneuxii, A. urgineae, A. vaillantii, and A. vindobonensis but differs in spore size range, spore wall thickness, host plant genera and considerable divergences of ITS and LSU sequences. Consequently, the smut is described here as a new species, Antherospora tractemae. The host plant was formerly included in the genus Scilla (S. verna), but recently moved to a distinct genus Tractema. Molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal that Antherospora tractemae is sister to the lineage of Muscari-parasitizing Antherospora and only distantly related to the Scilla-parasitizing Antherospora species. Thus, the phylogenetic placement of the smut fungus supports the systematic placement of its host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribe Massonieae Baker (Hyacinthaceae-Hyacinthoideae) presently consists of about 19 genera and 230 species distributed from Africa (south of the Sahara) to Madagascar and India. Based on atpB and trnL-F DNA sequences the tribe is monophyletic only when the genus Pseudoprospero is excluded from Massonieae. In most trnL-F trees, this genus occupies a basal position within subfamily Hyacinthoideae and is sister to the rest of the subfamily. Molecular data suggest that the remaining genera of Massonieae do not share common ancestry with the Eurasian/North-African tribe Hyacintheae Dumort. (Scilla, Hyacinthus and allies), and thus a narrow concept of the essentially Eurasian genus Scilla is supported. Members of well-supported clades in Massonieae usually show similarities in seed characteristics as determined by scanning electron microscopy. Phylogenetic position and seed morphology indicate that Massonia angustifolia and M. zeyheri do not belong to the genus Massonia but fall into a clade together with Daubenya, Androsiphon and Amphisiphon. The genus Whiteheadia appears paraphyletic in the 50% majority rule trnL-F tree and occupies a basal position next to Massonia. However, in the strict consensus tree neither monophyly nor polyphyly can be excluded for this genus. Seed appendages are documented for members of the genera Ledebouria and Lachenalia. Within the genera of Massonieae there is a tendency towards bending of the seed axis. This phenomenon is most obvious within the genus Lachenalia. Delimitation of genera based on seed morphology largely agrees with the results of molecular studies. Correlation between number, size and color of seeds, geographical distribution and phylogenetic position of the genera are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a proposal to conserve the name Scilla, a species which has been included in eight different genera belonging to different subfamilies of Hyacinthaceae.