Some Ornamental Geophytes from the East Anatolia

Abstract

Turkey is rich in various of plants as well as the geophytes(bulb, tuber and rhizome bearing plants) of which more than 600 different species exist in Turkey^1-3. Geophytes are important as ornamental plants with their splendid flowers and blossom in spring^4,5. Besides their exportation as ornamental plants such as Galanthus elwesii,Leucojum aestivum, Fritillaria imperialis, Cyclamen hederifolium used in medicine. In the east Anatolia, especially around Van, Hakkari and Bitlis, leaves of some species e.g. Allium vineale, A. schoenoprasum are used in making cheese with herbs “otlu peynir”. Fresh leaves of Eremurus spectabilis,Ornitogalum narbonense are sold in farmmarkets as vegetables. Bulbs of Allium tuncelianum are used instead of garlic. Tubers of many species of Orchis,Ophrys and Dactylorhiza are used to make a pleasant drink called “sahlep”⁶. In spite of the existence of other plants with beautiful flowers in the region, only Fritillaria imperialis, F. persica and Sternbergia clusiana are collected for exportation as ornamental plants. Among these, especially Fritillaria imperialis which exists around Semdinli, Bitlis, Siirt and Adiyaman is exported in large volumes. Iris spuria ssp. musulmanica,Narcissus poeticus and Tulipa sylvestris are used as ornamental plants in the parks and gardens in this region. Geophytes are used in the east Anatolia for various purposes and have an important economic value. In this study, we will concentrate on the species that are or can be used as ornamental purposes.