Endemic Plants

Endemic is derived from the Greek word endemos, meaning "native"; it is used to describe species whose distribution is restricted to a specific country, region, or local area and are not naturally found anywhere else in the world. This "specific region" may encompass a broad geographic area such as a country, or it may be limited to a single province, district, mountain, valley, or even a few square meters. Rare plants are often endangered species due to their extremely limited habitats; however, not all rare plants are endemic.

Classification of Endemic Taxa Based on Origin and Development

Paleoendemics are ancient taxa that were once widely distributed during geological periods but have since retreated into narrow and specialized habitats due to changes in climate and environmental conditions, becoming systemically isolated. In contrast, neoendemics are recently evolved plant taxa that have not yet expanded their range and therefore exhibit restricted distributions.

Schizoendemics are species that originated from a common ancestral taxon through slow divergence and geographic isolation in areas with different ecological conditions. Patroendemics are diploid plants that, through polyploidization in neighboring regions, give rise to new taxa with broader distributions. Apoendemics, on the other hand, are species that arise abruptly from ancestral taxa, primarily through polyploidization.

Ecological Preferences and Global Distribution Dynamics

When examining the ecological habitat preferences of endemic plants, topographic elevation and geological substrate type are found to be critical determining factors. Globally, approximately 80 percent of endemic species are distributed between 1000 and 2000 meters above sea level. Mountain and subalpine regions, due to their high ecological diversity, are particularly rich in endemism, whereas alpine zones, dominated by uniform ecological conditions, are primarily inhabited by widely distributed species.

In terms of edaphic preferences, 21.5 percent of endemic plants grow on calcium-rich limestone rocks, 5 percent on volcanic rocks, and 4.75 percent on metamorphic rocks. Particularly, serpentinite-like metamorphic rock formations, rich in heavy metals such as magnesium, iron, chromium, and nickel but poor in calcium and nitrogen, create strong geological isolation that triggers unique plant evolution known as "edaphic endemism."

When evaluating global distribution data, oceanic islands isolated from continental landmasses millions of years ago and tropical/subtropical regions with year-round rainfall exhibit the highest rates of endemism. Statistically, 90 percent of Australia’s flora, 81.1 percent of New Zealand’s flora, and approximately 80 percent of Madagascar’s flora consist of endemic species. In tropical South America, Brazil’s rainforests harbor 55,000 out of 70,000 plant species, achieving a remarkable endemism rate of 78.5 percent.^【1】

Biogeographic Diversity of Türkiye’s Flora

Endemism Statistics

Endemic Plant Species in Türkiye - Saffron(Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

Türkiye possesses extraordinary floristic richness due to factors such as extreme topographic elevation differences reaching up to 5000 meters above sea level, its geographic position serving as a natural bridge between three continents, its location at the intersection of three distinct phytogeographic regions—the Mediterranean, Europe-Siberia, and Iran-Turan—and its role as a refuge for plant species migrating from the north during the Pleistocene glacial periods. Of the approximately 10,000 to 12,000 plant species native to Türkiye, including subspecies and varieties, an estimated 3000 to 4000 are endemic, resulting in an overall endemism rate of 33 to 33.5 percent.^【2】

Considering that only 2750 of the total 12,000 plant species across the entire European continent are endemic, Türkiye’s global significance in botanical science becomes even clearer. When analyzing the distribution of endemic taxa within Türkiye according to phytogeographic regions, the Iran-Turan phytogeographic region ranks first with 1220 taxa, followed by the Mediterranean region with 1050 taxa and the Europe-Siberia region with 300 taxa. When considering political and geographic boundaries, the highest endemism is recorded in the Mediterranean Region with approximately 850 taxa, followed by Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia regions.^【3】

Although no plant family in Türkiye is entirely endemic, 15 plant genera are unique to the country. In terms of taxonomic diversity, the Asteraceae (daisy family) contains the highest number of endemic species with 430. At the genus level, Astragalus (milkvetch) with 233 endemic species and Verbascum (mullein) with 185 endemic species rank highest. The formation known as the “Anatolian Cross,” which physically and ecologically separates Central Anatolia from Eastern Anatolia, extending from Gümüşhane through the Taurus Mountains and Amanos Mountains, is recognized as one of the most significant evolutionary barriers and major centers of speciation for Türkiye’s endemic plant biodiversity.

Characteristic Endemic Taxa Unique to Anatolian Geography

Endemic Plant Species in Türkiye - Cherry(Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

Türkiye’s flora presents a wide range of endemism, from highly restricted “microendemic” taxa with populations confined to minute areas, to economically significant forest trees with broad distributions. Among the narrowly distributed point endemics, Arenaria izmirensis (Izmir sandwort), found only in Kemalpaşa district of İzmir and initially discovered with a population of just 120 individuals, and Centaurea tchihatcheffii (Love flower), growing in Gölbaşı district of Ankara with red-purple bracts, stand out. Similarly, Scilla mesopotamica (Mesopotamian squill), identified in the Halfeti flora of Şanlıurfa with fewer than 200 individuals in the wild, is another critically restricted taxon.^【5】

Thermopsis turcica / Vuralia turcica (Piyan / Eber yellow), found around the Eber and Akşehir lakes in the Afyonkarahisar region, is evolutionarily unique for its rare ability to produce three fruits from a single flower. Among woody endemics forming forest ecosystems, Quercus vulcanica (Kasnak oak), growing south of Eğirdir and in the areas of Kütahya, Isparta, and Afyonkarahisar, and Liquidambar orientalis (Anatolian sweetgum), distributed in Muğla and valued for its resin used in perfume and cosmetics, are among the most significant species.

Among ornamental plants, Fritillaria imperialis (Crown imperial), known for its bulbous stem and commonly found in the regions of Hakkari, Van, and Şırnak, Tulipa sintenisii / Tulipa aleppensis (Muş tulip), growing in the Muş Plain, and Ophrys lycia (Lycian bee orchid), used in salep production and found in the ancient Likya region of Antalya, are notable examples. In the context of agricultural history and food security, Türkiye serves as a center of origin for wild endemic ancestors of globally cultivated crops such as wheat, lentil, chickpea, almond, and cherry, contributing approximately 30 percent of the world’s genetic resources for food crops.

Threats to Endemic Biological Diversity and Conservation Strategies

Rare and endemic plants, due to their limited ranges and restricted distributions, are highly vulnerable to environmental stress and habitat degradation. Today, they face destructive pressures from various anthropogenic threats, including uncontrolled overgrazing in natural habitats, unscientific collection and harvesting, misguided land interventions under the guise of improvement, forest fires, recreational pressure, unplanned urbanization, and intensive herbicide use in agricultural areas, all of which directly endanger endemic plant populations with extinction.

Academic floristic studies have determined that at least 12 endemic plant species have become entirely extinct by the present day due to these negative factors. To address this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) developed a scientific threat categorization system known as the “Red Data Book” to periodically assess the population status of endemic species. This global methodology has been integrated into Türkiye’s conservation planning to prioritize protection efforts for its rare and endemic flora.

As a concrete example of habitat conservation and restoration efforts, an integrated project led by the Nature Conservation Association in collaboration with academia has been successfully implemented for the local endemics Satureja aintabensis (Antepkayakekiği) and Teucrium paederotoides (Yer meşesi), whose only natural habitat is the Dülükbaba forest in Gaziantep. The campaign included eliminating threats to their habitat, carefully collecting and propagating plant seeds in laboratory conditions, preserving unique genetic resources, transplanting specimens into a botanical garden, and, most critically, working with official authorities to legally protect their habitat through a “Local Environmental Council Decision.”

Climate Change and the Destruction of Endemism in Wetlands

Climate change driven by global warming is causing direct degradation and transformation in wetland endemic plants and natural vegetation. One of the most significant ecological threats resulting from climate change is the invasion and rapid spread of alien plant species into wetlands, leading them to displace native vegetation.

The suppression of native flora by invasive species triggers a “red alert” in wetland ecosystems, severely impacting not only endemic plants but also overall biological diversity. The extinction of endemic and native plants, replaced by alien species, also affects animal species that depend on them for food, placing those animals at risk of extinction as well.

In addition to all these natural threats, human interventions aimed at converting wetlands for tourism—such as “clearing, cleaning, and expanding” or land reclamation—act as destructive factors accelerating the disappearance of endemic plant species on this already fragile ecological foundation.