Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the morphological and autecological characteristics of Salvia rosifolia Sm. which is an endemic plant (Lamiaceae) distributed in Erzurum and its environs. Morphologically, it was observed that the species had a perennial root system, the herbaceous stem was ascending, unbranched, leaves pinnatisect, oblong-eliptic, glandular and eglandular hairs were present on the both surface of leaves. Bracts were ovate-acuminate and bracteols lanceolate. It was observed that calyx was campanulate and corolla bilabiate and also species contained two A type of stamen. Ecologically, the chemical and physical analysis was carried out on soil and plant samples collected from 22 different localities in Erzurum and its environs. Present results showed that the plant generally prefers loamy, sandy-loamy and sandy-clayey-loam textural soils, with a slightly alkaline or neutral pH. They also preferred non-saline or slightly saline soils which were both medium and rich calcium carbonate. The result obtained from soil and plant analyses were evaluated statistically and it was found that there was a relation between the quantities of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium and plant abundance and distribution.
INTRODUCTION
The genus Salvia has roughly 900 species, thus being by far the largest genus within the Lamiaceae of worldwide occurrence (Kandemir, 2003). The two largest center of genus are in America and in South-West Asia. There are 87 Salvia species growing naturally in Turkey, half of which are endemic (Hedge, 1982). In Turkey they grow between an altitude 1-3350 m (Vural and Adigüzel, 1996). In various studies Salvia has been shown to be the most potent natural antioxidant of the common species (Wang et al., 1998). Salvia species contain monoterpenes with antiseptic characteristics (Nakipoğlu, 1993). Many Salvia species their essential oils are commonly used in the food, drug, cosmetic and perfumery industries (Nakipoğlu, 2002). They are well known among people and widely used as flavouring or fragrances and for medicinal purposes in the several regions of the world (Özcan et al., 2003). The leaves of Salvia species are also used as tea. In addition, Salvia species are grown in parks and gardens as ornamental plants (Nakipoğlu, 1993). Studies on autecology this genus very limited or not. For an understanding of the biological characteristics of a species, it is important to have knowledge of its habitats (Doğan and Mert, 1998; Doğan, 2001). No morphological and autecological studies have been done on Salvia rosifolia Sm (Lamiaceae), an endemic species, in Turkey. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the morphological and autecological features of Salvia rosifolia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The specimens of Salvia rosifolia Hedge were collected from 22 different localities in Erzurum and its environs (Fig. 1) during flowering and identified with the help of Flora of Turkey and the Aegean Islands (Davis, 1988). All the specimens Salvia longipedicellata were deposited in the Ata Herbarium (Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Atatürk University). Herbarium and fresh samples were used for morphological features, biometric measurements and autecological features.
Soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm depth, brought to the laboratory. They were left under laboratory conditions and air-dried. The dried soil samples were ground, passed through a 2 mm sieve and subjected to analysis. The texture determined according to the method of Gee and Bauder (1986). Total soluble salts, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and organic matter were determined according to the method of Öztürk et al. (1997). The pH values were determined using soil samples saturated with distilled water (Mclean, 1982).
| Fig. 1: | Localities of stations Salvia rosifolia samples were collected (●: S. rosifolia) |
The N, P and K contents were determined according to the method outlined in Kjeldahl, described by Hewetson (1951). The total phosphorus was determined with a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 436 nm. The total potassium was determined with a flame photometer (Perkin elmer Atomic absorbsion spectrophotometer 360). The Fe, Zn, Mn was determined according to the method of (Lidsay and Norwell, 1969) and measured Perkin elmer Atomic Absorbtion Spectrophotometer 360.
The above ground parts (stem, leaves and flowers) of the plants were collected from different localities in the flowering period (June-August), dried at 80°C in an oven for 24 h, ground with a commercial blender and prepared for analysis. Total nitrogen was determined according to AOAC (1990), method phosphorus was determined by spectrophotometer and potassium, calcium and sodium were determined by flame photometer according to the methods outlined in detail by AOAC (1990). Result of soils and plant samples were statically tested and regression curves and correlation coefficients obtained.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Morphological properties of Salvia rosifolia Sm
Root: The top root of the taxon is 28-65 cm length. In generally dense dark-brown hard barks surrounds the root. A lot of lateral root occurred from this main root.
Stem: The perennial herbaceous stem is ascending or suffruticose and branched or not, lower parts cover with old petiols. The stem is 23-72 cm long and 1.5-5.5 cm width. The stem surface is covered by densely glandular and eglandular hairs (Fig. 3). The stem color is light brown or brown-green at basal, green colored at upper in flowering period and dark violet colored in fruiting period.
| Fig. 2: | The flower segments of Salvia rosifolia: (a) longitudinal view of flower, (b-c) calyx, (d) corolla, (e) pistil, (f) venation of leaf, (g) stamens and (h) bracts (Scale: 1 cm) |
Leaf: Leaves are pinnatisect with an oblong elliptic terminal segment. Glandular and eglandular hairs are present on both the upper and the lower of leaves. It is found two pairs leaves at lateral segments (Fig. 2f). The petiole is 6.6-30 mm, glandular and eglandular hairs are present at the surface of petiole (Fig. 3a, c-d). The leaves are dark-green at basal, violet green at upper in flowering period.
Flower: Inflorescence is paniculate, flowers are zygomorphic symmetric (Fig. 2a). The flowers are arranged verticillately on plant and 4-14 flowers are present at verticillasters, rarely terminal verticillasters ending with 1 flower. Flowers are at the base of bracts. Bracts are ovate, acuminate and green-violet colored. Bracts are 3-5.5x6.5-13.5 mm (Fig. 2h). Bracteols are lanseolate in shape and 1-3x4-12 mm length. Pedicel is 5.5-9.3 mm length. The upper lip of calyx is tridentate and lower lip is bidentate. The shape of the calyx is campanulate (Fig. 2b-c). Calyx has numerous sessile glands (Fig. 3b). The calyx is 10.1-15 mm long and the color of the calyx lilac-green. Corolla is 18.3-27.3 mm length. Upper lip is lilac, lower lip is pink-violet. The lower part of corolla tube is annulate. The upper lip is straight in shape (Fig. 2d).
| Fig. 3: | Glandular and eglandular hairs in different parts of Salvia rosifolia (a-c). Capitate hairs (Glandular) and (d) Eglandular hairs |
Stamens are A type (Fig. 2g) and include within corolla. The filament is 6-11.5 mm length and anther is 1.7-3 mm length and yellow colored. The stigma has two parts and each parts are violet colored (Fig. 2e). The style is 18-27.2 mm long. Fruit type is nutlet. Seed is colored dark-brown and rounded as trigonous and 2.2x3 mm in length.
Physical analysis of the soils: It was found that 45.45% of the soils were loamy, 18.18% sandy-clayey-loam, 27.27% sandy-loam, 4.5% clayey-loam and 4.5% were silt-loam in texture (Table 1). This indicate that the plant generally prefers loamy and sandy-loam soils. Salvia wiedemannii growing in Middle East Anatolia has also been reported to prefer same soils (Altınöz, 1997).
| Table 1: | Physical and chemical analysis of the soil of Salvia rosifolia |
The soils on which S. rosifolia grows have pH values of 6.95-8.01 (Table 1). According to soil analysis data the plant prefers 22.30% neutral, 77.27 slightly alkaline. A preference for slightly to moderately alkaline soils resembles the behaviour of Salvia wiedemannii distributed in the near region (Altınöz, 1997).
The calcium carbonate content of the soils of S. rosifolia varies from 9.9-53.8%. Accordingly plant grows that 22.72% medium, 59.09% very rich CaCO3 and 18.18% rich CaCO3 (Table 1). It can be seen that this plant generally prefers calcareous soils. Also, Salvia wiedemannii distributed in near region prefer soils moderately rich and rich in calcium carbonate content. The organic matter of these soils varies from 0.06-5.59%. These soils contain very poor (31.81%), poor (36.36%), rich (27.27%), medium (9.09%) and moderately rich (4.54%) in organic matter (Table 1). The salinity values of Soil of S. rosifolia vary from 0.008 to 0.161% (Table 1). These soils are non-saline in general (Tüzüner, 1990). A comparison of our data with those of other researchers (Çiriğ and Seçmen, 1990; Altınöz, 1997) reveals that Saliva rosifolia and the other species Salvia kronenburgii Rech. Fil, Salvia wiedemannii distributed in the near region occupy non-saline soils.
Chemical analysis of soils: The nitrogen contents of S. rosifolia varies from, 0.01 to 0.28% (Table 2). Accordingly 36.36% of the soils are poor, 27.27% are moderate, 9.9% sufficient and 27.27% rich in nitrogen. The phosphorus contents of the Salvia rosifolia Sm soil samples are given in (Table 2). 31.81% of the soils are very rich in phosphorus, 22.72% rich in phosphorus, 27.27% medium and 9.09% very poor and poor phosphorus. The species prefer varying phosphorus soils. Potassium values were 54.54% sufficient potassium, 45.46% rich potassium of the soils (Table 2). On the other hand, the soils of the species Origanum onites belongs to same family and spreaded in near regions were determined rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, but not in potassium (Gönüz and Özörgücü, 1999).
Chemical analysis of the plants: The chemical analysis of plant, showed that the contend of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and sodium were varied from 1.08 to 2.80; 0.05 to 0.27; 1.38 to 2.51; 0.70 to 1.60 and 0.02 to 0.2, respectively (Table 3). These values were found to be in accordance with the limits reported before (Kaçar, 1972; Johnson and Ulrich, 1959; Chapman, 1967).
Statistical evaluation of the soil and plant analysis result: Salvia rosifolia the statistical evaluation of the results between the pH, CaCO3, organic matter, Salt, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, manganese and zinc content of the soils and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium of the plants. From the regression analysis four relevant correlations were obtained, three of these negative and one positive correlation. The latter were observed between calcium carbonate and nitrogen, salt and calcium, salt and sodium, zinc and calcium.
| Table 2: | Physical and chemical analysis of the soil of Salvia rosifolia |
| Table 3: | Chemical analysis of S. rosifolia Sm |
No other relevant correlations were obtained. Regression curves and correlations coefficients showed that negative correlations exist between soil calcium carbonate and plant nitrogen (R2 = 0.18, R = 0.42) (Table 4, Fig. 4); soil salt and plant calcium (R2 = 0.18, R = 0.43) (Table 4, Fig. 5); and soil zinc and plant calcium (R2: 0.18, R: 0.42) (Table 4, Fig. 7). But a positive correlation exist between soil salt and plant sodium (R2: 0.36, R: 0.60) (Table 4, Fig. 6) was obtained.
| Table 4: | Regression analysis between different parameters in Salvia rosifolia |
Since the probability values of the soil calcium carbonate-plant nitrogen, soil salt-plant calcium and soil zinc-plant calcium in S. rosifolia Sm correlations were less than 0.05, the correlation coefficients and models were significant (İkiz et al., 1996) and a reliable correlation exist between soil salt-plant sodium. In terms of percentage r2-values the soils of this plant appear to be poor in nutrients.
It was determined that morphological characters such as type of stamen, properties of glandular and eglandular hairs, shape of corolla and calyx structure of bract have taxonomical value. As regards results presented here, the morphological properties of S. rosifolia Sm showed some similarities and differences compared to other findings in the Flora of Turkey.
| Fig. 4: | Regression analysis of plant nitrogen and soil CaCO3 in S. rosifolia |
| Fig. 5: | Regression analysis of plant calcium and soil salt in S. rosifolia |
| Fig. 6: | Regression analysis of plant sodium and soil salt in S. rosifolia |
| Fig. 7: | Regression analysis of plant calcium and soil zinc in S. rosifolia |
Very few ecological studies have been conducted on Lamiaceae family especially Salvia sp. in Turkey which are used as pharmaceuticals, ornamental, tea etc. Therefore, we investigated ecological properties of S. rosifolia.