| Abstract Detail
Pteridological Section/AFS Musselman, Lytton John [1], Bariche, Michel [2], Saoud, Nada Sinnu [2]. The Genus Isoetes (Isoetaceae, Lycophyta) in Syria and Lebanon. The eastern Mediterranean has few habitats suitable for Isoetes spp. (quillworts) due to its arid climate and few wetlands, habitats being destroyed at a rapid rate before a inventory of quillworts is complete. Two taxa have been reported from Syria and Lebanon, none from Israel, Palestinian Territories, or Jordan. Isoetes olympica A. Braun occurs in southeastern Syria in the Hauran region. This is the only known locality other than western Turkey. Mouterde also recorded a quillwort from three localities in northern Lebanon which he called I. hystrix Dur. forma subinermis Dur. We found 2n=22 for I. olympica and 2n=20 for I. hystrix. Recently collected specimens from one location in Lebanon (Menges) displayed the same chromosome number as I. hystrix but showed different megaspores ornamentation. Leaf morphology is similar in both taxa. At the present rate of destruction, this interesting group of quillworts will be extirpated.
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Related Links:
ODU Isoetes Page
1 - Old Dominion University, Department of Biological Sciences, Mills Godwin Building, 45th Street, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529-0266, USA
2 - American University of Beirut, Department of Biology, Beirut, Lebanon
Keywords:
Middle East
wetlands
Chromosome numbers.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 18-3
Location: 602/Hilton
Date: Monday, August 15th, 2005
Time: 2:15 PM
Abstract ID:281 |
