An overview of the halophytes in Turkey

Abstract

Nearly 4.3 million ha of agricultural land in Turkey are degraded, out of which 1.5 million ha are arid and 2.8 million ha saline-alkaline. Plant diversity studies show that these areas include 300 halophytic taxa, belonging to 150 genera and 40 families. The dominant families are Poaceae (16.6%), Chenopodiaceae (14.0%), Asteraceae (12.0%), and Fabaceae (7.6%), while the dominant genera with highest number of taxa are Limonium, Juncus, Salsola, Plantago, and Trifolium. Phytogeographically, 50.67% of these taxa are imperfectly known, 9.33% are cosmopolitan, 8% Mediterranean, 7.67% Euro-Siberian, 3.33% East Mediterranean, and 2% Irano- Turanian. The life form spectrum reveals that 40% of the halophytes are therophytes, 28.33% hemicryptophytes, and 23% cryptophytes, with the majority being hygrohalophytes followed by xerophytes and psammohalophytes. The number of endemic taxa is about 39, the highest in Asteraceae (8 taxa), and Plumbaginaceae (6 taxa). The red data book of Turkish plants shows that 33 endemic and 11 non-endemic halophytes are in danger of extinction. Species like Limonum bellidifolium are collected in spring for indoor decorations due to their attractive floral shoots. Halocnemum strobilaceum, Aeluropus littoralis and Arthrocnemum sp. are grazed by cattle, and species of Juncus are used for basket making. A large number of people in the Aegean region have started using Salicornia europaea as salad. In some markets Arthrocnemum fruticosum is sold in place of Salicornia europaea for this purpose, and one has to be careful in this connection because consumption of the former in place of the latter may create health problems related to the digestive system. The littoral halophytic taxa, which occupy habitats immediately following the psammophytic plant communities, serve as a reclusive area for many animals and can serve as indicators of salinity-sodicity, whereas areas with high ground water salinity could be used for halophytic forage crop production. Some halophytic taxa can be used in erosion control alongside the coastal zones because of their deep root systems. There is great potential in the halophytic plant cover for consumption as well as amelioration of degraded lands in Turkey. Some work has already started in this direction but we have a long way to go.