For the first time, pollen morphology of 9 (4 spp. and 5 subspp.) taxa representing lobed leaved oaks of Iran in the family of Fagaceae has been examined and illustrated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of acetolysed material. Detailed pollen morphological characteristics are given for Quercus section. The pollen grains are single, isopolar, radially symmetrical, tricolpate, tricolporoidate or tricolporate. Pollens were studied to show all possible characteristics like shape, size, apertures, wall thickness, etc., with special reference to the specific features of each pollen type such as structural, sculptural and suprasculptural patterns. There is considerable variation in pollen morphology between taxa so that, three types of pollen shape, five types of structural pattern, two types of sculptural pattern, five types of suprasculptural pattern and three types of perfora distribution are defined. Furthermore, the relationship between pollen morphology and taxonomy is discussed. Overall, pollen characters are shown to be a useful and informative tool for assessing taxonomic position within Quercus section in Iran.
Distribution of Turkish Quercus L. has a crucial value since Turkey is a transition place between Europe and Asia and located at the meeting point of three phytogeographical regions. To compare the diversity of species and to find the distribution patterns of oaks, species richness of the most current distributions were studied. Relationships of phytogeographical regions and presence of the Anatolian Diagonal relevant to oak distributions were also investigated. Analyses were performed on Davis'grid square system. The highest richness of Quercus species were found at north-western Turkey which were located in the meeting place of Asia and Europe. The lowest richness scores were found at eastern and south-eastern Anatolia. Moreover, latitude, longitude and altitude histograms showed a correlation with species richness. However, the presence of Anatolian Diagonal is partially supported.