Some ecological characteristics and the flora of Gölcük District and its environs (Kocaeli-Turkey)

Abstract

Some ecological characteristics and the flora of Gölcük District and its environs are represented in this study. All the greenery in the district during 2006 to 2009 vegetation seasons was explored. Plant samples were collected, dried, labeled, and determined according to the standard herbarium methods. At the end of the study, 461 species belonging to 295 genera and 85 families were identified. Seven of the identified taxa belonged to Pteridophyta while 454 belonged to Spermatopyta divisions. Eight taxa were Gymnospermae and 446 taxa were Angiospermae members (386 of them Dicots and 60 of them Monocots) in the Spermatophyta division. In addition, four taxa were endemics, so the endemism ratio was 0.87%. The most commonly found plant taxa were in Fabaceae family with 57 taxa (12.36%), and other families; Asteraceae 50 taxa (10.85%), Poaceae 33 taxa (7.16%), Rosaceae 22 taxa (4.77%) and Brassicaceae 21 taxa (4.56%). Species containing the highest number of genera were represented with Trifolium (14 taxa, 3.04%), Lathyrus (12 taxa, 2.60%), Vicia (nine taxa, 1.95%) and Quercus (eight taxa, 1.74%) respectively. Life forms were found in the following categories: hemicryptophytes (33.41%), therophytes (32.97%), phanerophytes (18.66%), geophytes (12.80%) and chamaephytes (2.16%). Phytogeographical origins of the taxa were as follows; 98 taxa (21.26%) were from Euro-Siberian elements (including Euxine), 57 taxa (12.36%) consisted of Mediterranean elements (including East Mediterranean), four taxa (0.87%) were of Irano-Turanian origin. Finally, 97 taxa (21.04%) were widespread and 9 taxa (1.95%) were cosmopolitan while phytogeographical origins of 302 taxa were unknown. © 2011 Academic Journals. © 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.