31.05.2026 16:11
Four new rock rose species discovered in the Central Taurus Mountains through a TÜBİTAK-supported project led by Selçuk University have been added to scientific literature. One of the species was named by Prof. Dr. Kuddisi Ertuğrul after his wife.
{
"text": "
In Konya, within the scope of a TÜBİTAK project led by Prof. Dr. Kuddisi Ertuğrul, a faculty member at Selçuk University's Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, four new rockrose species discovered in the Central Taurus Mountains have been introduced to the scientific literature. Naming one of these species after his wife, Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul said, 'We collected approximately 1500 samples during field studies in 45 provinces across Turkey. We worked on nearly 2,500 samples from domestic and international sources. In our evaluations, we determined that these four plant species are new to the scientific world. I named one after my wife, 'Aethionema Kadriye Sultan Kayagülü' because she has been very supportive of my work.'"
FIELD STUDIES CONDUCTED IN 45 PROVINCES ACROSS TURKEY
Faculty members from Selçuk University's Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, including Prof. Dr. Kuddisi Ertuğrul, Prof. Dr. Tuna Uysal, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meryem Bozkurt, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emrah Şirin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakkı Demirelma, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu Yılmaz Çıtak, conducted field studies in 45 provinces across Turkey. Following evaluations and analyses of samples taken from Konya, Karaman, and Antalya, four previously unknown rockrose species were added to the literature. The species have been introduced to the scientific world and published in the internationally respected journal Plants.
Providing information about the project, Prof. Dr. Kuddisi Ertuğrul said, 'Our study is the product of a project aimed at revising the genus of rockrose (Aethionema), supported by TÜBİTAK. During our field studies in 45 provinces across Turkey, we collected approximately 1500 samples. Additionally, by examining 15 domestic herbaria and about 10 international herbaria, we worked on nearly 2,500 samples in total. By evaluating morphological, taxonomic, seed, pollen, molecular, and chromosome analyses together, we determined that these four plant species are new to the scientific world.'"
\"TWO NAMED ACCORDING TO THE CITY WHERE THEY WERE COLLECTED\"
Stating that during the naming stage of the plant species, he named one after his wife, Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul said, 'We named two according to the city where they were collected. We named two according to the person who contributed to the project. I named one after my wife, 'Aethionema Kadriye Sultan Kayagülü,' because she has been very supportive of my work. Another one is 'Aethionema Uysali.' A teacher colleague, who is a nature photographer, took its first photo and sent it. We named it after him from Akseki, as 'Aethionema Uysali Akseki Kayagülü.' Another one we collected from Beyşehir. 'Aethionema Beyşehirense Beyşehir Kayagülü.' Another one we collected from Ermenek Göktepe Plateau. We named it 'Aethionema Ermenekense Göktepe Kayagülü.'"
\"HOMELAND IS TURKEY\"
Stating that the homeland of the newly discovered species is Turkey, Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul said the following:
'This rockrose genus is endemic to Turkey, and its distribution center and gene center is Turkey. It is a genus represented by about 70 species worldwide. Of these 70 species, 51 are distributed in Turkey, and 37 of these are endemic to Turkey. Therefore, the Turkish geography constitutes a large part of this plant. The countries where it is distributed are also neighboring countries to Turkey, such as Iran, Greece, or the Caucasus. The homeland of this plant is Turkey.'"
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}