Allium olivieri Boiss . ( Alliaceae ) , a new taxon to Turkey , with contributions to its taxonomy

The genus Allium L. was revised by Kollmann [1] for the “Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands” in which 141 species (161 taxa) were recognized. After this study, 26 further new species (26 taxa) have been described from Turkey in the last twenty years [2-6]. Thus, the total number of Allium species has increased to 167 (187 taxa). In this paper, we provide a new record in Turkey for Allium olivieri Boiss. The total number of Allium species recorded in Turkey has now increased to 168 (188 taxa). During a field work in the Tektek mountain, Şanliurfa, South East of Turkey, 50 km away from the border of Syria, Eker collected a number of interesting Allium specimens. Among them were specimens which could not be identified using the account in the Flora of Turkey [1-3]. However, using Flora Orientalis [7], Flora Iranica [8], and Flora of Iraq [9], the specimens were identified as Allium olivieri Boiss. This is a new record for the Flora of Turkey. The record is not surprising since this species also grows in nearby Iran and Iraq.


Introduction
The genus Allium L. was revised by Kollmann [1] for the "Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands" in which 141 species (161 taxa) were recognized.After this study, 26 further new species (26 taxa) have been described from Turkey in the last twenty years [2][3][4][5][6].Thus, the total number of Allium species has increased to 167 (187 taxa).In this paper, we provide a new record in Turkey for Allium olivieri Boiss.The total number of Allium species recorded in Turkey has now increased to 168 (188 taxa).
During a field work in the Tektek mountain, Şanliurfa, South East of Turkey, 50 km away from the border of Syria, Eker collected a number of interesting Allium specimens.Among them were specimens which could not be identified using the account in the Flora of Turkey [1][2][3].However, using Flora Orientalis [7], Flora Iranica [8], and Flora of Iraq [9], the specimens were identified as Allium olivieri Boiss.This is a new record for the Flora of Turkey.The record is not surprising since this species also grows in nearby Iran and Iraq.

Plant Description
The following description is mainly based on our own observations, verifying those given by Boissier [7] and Wendelbo [8,9] and adding some lacking features.

Conservation status
Allium olivieri has a very limited distribution in South East Anatolia at national level.The natural distribution area of the species is damaged due to cultivation and grazing activities, and is also being continuously destroyed by the construction of tunnels for the irrigation of plains.Thus, the habitat of A. olivieri in Turkey is under threat and its destruction would lead to a dramatic decrease of the abundance or even complete extinction of this species.Nevertheless, it grows at the other localities in neighbouring countries Iraq, Iran and Syria.Taking into account all these points, the species should be classified as "Vulnerable" (VU) [11] and both it and the site in Turkey should be protected.

Discussion
Allium olivieri had not been recorded in Turkey before this work.A supplemented description based on individuals from the discovered population compared with the original description in the "Flora Orientalis" is given.A comparison of selected characters between our findings with Flora Orientalis [7], Flora Iranica [8], and Flora of Iraq [9] is given in Tab. 1.It is apparent from this comparison that the specimens from Turkey show differences such as number of spatha lobes, pedicel length, and perianth colour from those found in Iran and Iraq.It is likely that the variation in spatha lobes, pedicel and scape length, and perianth colour observed in A. olivieri reflects a variation in habitat and ecological conditions.As can be seen from the table, some morphological characters of this species were not given in Flora Orientalis, Flora Iranica, and Flora of Iraq such as: spatha length, tepal width, anther and pollen colour, capsule width, and all of seed features.Also, the approximate values belonging to morphological characters that given in abovementioned floras have been enhanced.Moreover, it is a little known species in literature and the photos of the plant are very likely presented here for the first time.
Morphologically, although A. olivieri resembles A. noëanum Reuter ex Regel and A. shatakiense Rech.fil.from the same section, it is a very interesting and distinctive species differing from the both species and the other Allium species by having ovary and capsule with six apical horns.In addition, it differs from A. noëanum by having smaller and reflexed perianth segments, and from A. shatakiense by having longer and unequal pedicels, longer spathe, bigger bulb, shorter and reflexed perianth segments.
A. olivieri has very strong scent, beautiful flowers and habit.For this reson, it may have medicinal and/or ornamental potential.In this purposes, the bulbs of the plant were taken

Fig. 1
Fig. 1 Allium olivieri Boiss.a General view in the natural habitat.b Inflorescence.c Flower.d Fruit.Photo by Eker, 2007.04.06 and 2009.04.23.

Fig. 2
Fig. 2 Geographical distribution of Allium olivieri Boiss. in the world.
A comparison of selected morphological characters of Allium olivieri between descriptions given in the Flora Orientalis, Flora Iranica, Flora of Iraq, and in the present study.