Notes on the taxonomical, morphological and mucilage features of Capsella bursa-pastoris Medik. and Capsella rubella Reuter taxa (Brassicaceae)

In this study, examinations on the taxonomical, morphological and mucilage characters of the Capsella bursa-pastoris and Capsella rubella taxa growing in Turkey were performed. The properties were acquired at the flowering and fruiting periods of inhabitants. The samplings were made of 13 locations. In morphological revisions, descriptions reported in Flora of Turkey of the studied taxa were reviewed in view of the comprehensive assessments over 200 samples. In addition, surfaces of the seeds were studied micromorphologically with scanning electron microscope. Also, seed mucilage structures were examined in detail. The mucilage in the studied taxa was in the pectin or cellulose structure. The columellae figures were prominent or flattened. Furthermore, soil adhesion capacities of the examined taxa varied between 248 mg and 344 mg. The occurrence of the mucilage in seeds may provide an important adaptive feature in dispersal and colonization of Capsella taxa