Plants from eastern Turkey

[Roma]

Could it be Quercus pontica?

[Kees Jan]

Thanks, but it is probably not pontica, which seems to be restricted to a small part of NE Turkey according to the distribution map in the following publication: http://www.pakbs.org/pjbot/PDFs/41(5)/PJB41(5)2445.pdf . My photographs are from southern Turkey, perhaps 100km east of Sanliurfa.

[Kees Jan]

One more mystery solved thanks to Prof. Dr. Hayri Duman ! The very unusual crucifer with a Crassulaceous appearance shown in one of my previous messages is in fact the rare Cochlearia sempervivum Boiss. & Bal.  This plant is a Nickel (Ni) accumulator restricted to serpentine soils in Turkey. The plant is also mentioned in http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/issues/bot-04-28-1-2/bot-28-1-2-14-0208-15.pdf and this publication includes a map showing areas of ultramafic geology... There is lots of it around Erzincan, where we found our Cochlearia.

[Maggi Young]

One more mystery solved thanks to Prof. Dr. Hayri Duman ! The very unusual crucifer with a Crassulaceous appearance shown in one of my previous messages is in fact the rare Cochlearia sempervivum Boiss. & Bal.  This plant is a Nickel (Ni) accumulator restricted to serpentine soils in Turkey. The plant is also mentioned in http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/issues/bot-04-28-1-2/bot-28-1-2-14-0208-15.pdf and this publication includes a map showing areas of ultramafic geology... There is lots of it around Erzincan, where we found our Cochlearia.

That is most interesting, Kees.... marvelous to have that update, thank you.

[Kees Jan]

How about this quote from the publication I just mentioned: "There is a real possibility that some of the Turkish Ni accumulating species will be useful in the future (not only in Turkey) for phytoremediation (removal of Ni from soils superficially contaminated by smelter fallout), and for phytomining."

Phytomining nickel , never heard of the concept! Remarkable  !

By the way, the Centaurea, also shown above and photographed on the same mountain may also be a serpentine endemic, according to the same publication many Turkish Centaurea species are...

[Kees Jan]

The Quercus shown earlier and initially identified as Q. cerris seems to be Q. brantii, which has somewhat similar fruits! I don't think the leaves on my pics matched Q. cerris and today I found out that the fruits turned out to have much less 'moss' than in Q. cerris (named moss-oak in Dutch)...

About 60km north of were my pics of Q. brantii were taken Marijn van den Brink photographed true Q. cerris during this trip. Here are pics of both species that show the difference in both fruit and leaves (first cerris, the 2nd brantii!).

As is so often the case, it is not nearly complicated as initially thought, once you know how to separte them! Isn't it typical... Both species are in Section Cerris, the Turkey oak and its relatives, quite a large group of oaks named after Q. cerris...

[PeterT]

The top picture is what we used to grow as Q cerris. -glad to know the distinction Kees.

[Paul T]

Here is a very different oak photographed between Diyabakir and Sanliurfa. Any suggestions? It IS an oak isn't it  ?

Kees,

If an oak, I'd have no idea, but for some reason it reminds me strongly of some of the Elaegnus?  Not had a huge amount of experience of them, but my first thought when I was it was of that genus, so I thought I'd mention it just in case?

[Kees Jan]

Yes, Quercus brantii looks quite similar to some Elaeagnus in leaf, it's an oak though.

[Kees Jan]

The second picture in this thread is now confirmed as Colchicum umbrosum by an authority on Colchicum !

[Onion]

Kees,
I have a Quercus brantii from a wild source. But can't say if the identification is correct. It is a 4 year old seedling and not a lot of leaves on the plant.

[Lesley Cox]

Here is my Quercus cerris. I'm pretty sure it is true. When we moved here 15 years ago it and a red/black Fagus sylvatica were the only plants worth their space - on 2 acres!

[TheOnionMan]

Here is my Quercus cerris. I'm pretty sure it is true. When we moved here 15 years ago it and a red/black Fagus sylvatica were the only plants were their space - on 2 acres!

And a handsome species it is!

[Kees Jan]

I just posted a mistery Sempervivum from Zigana Pass NE Turkey in a sempervivum and jovibarba thread at http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5315.150

[TheOnionMan]

Yes, and I did some research and gave a reply.