Morphological-geographic analysis of species of the genus Rosa L. (Rosaceae)

Author: Nana Barnaveli
Keywords: hypanthia, karyology
Annotation:

Morphological-geographic analysis of species of the genus Rosa L. (Rosaceae) of Georgia’s Flora Nana Barnaveli nana.barnaveli@tsu.ge Department of Biology, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences University str. 13, Tbilisi, Georgia. Morphological-geographic analysis of representatives of the genus Rosa of Georgia’s Flora was performed. Particularly, petal color variability; structure , shape and color of hypanthia; branch bark color variability of separate species were analyzed. Keys to species based on separate features (petal color, pseudo-fruit color, shape and structure, shrab branch bark color) were compiled on the basis of the analysis of the above mentioned morphological properties. During our searches botanical expeditions took place in the eastern and southern regions of Georgia. We collected some species of the genus Rosa: Rosa rapinii Boiss., R. pimpinellifolia L., R.boissieri Crep., R. woronowii Lonacz., R.prilipkoana Sosn., r. tomentosa Smith., R. iberica Stev., R. transcaucasica Manden., R. micrantha Borrer ex Smith., R. Canina L., R corymbifera Borkh. Our data is based on field investigation, on literature research and on the study of the richest herbaria material (TB, TBI, TGM, TBPH). This search was carried out at the department of Botany of Ivane Javakhishvili State University and at the Institute of Botany under the guidance of Professor Revaz Gagnidze and in collaboration with Manana Churadze. The obtained data were integrated with other macro-morphological features listed below as well as the species distribution ranges:  Shape of the branch spines and their location on the branches;  Location of calyx with respect to fruits and fruit structure;  Nature of pubescence on leaf petioles, sepals and peduncles. The listed features are stable and define specific status of plant. Key for species seasonal identification were compiled for the first time based on definite diagnostic features, which allows for identification of taxa (in the wild or on a herbarium material) of the systematically complicated genus Rosa throughout a year.