Three populations of <em>Abies cilicica</em> subsp. <em>isaurica</em> and four of <em>A. cilicica</em> subsp. <em>cilicica</em> were analyzed using 35 morphological and anatomical needle characters with the implementation of multivariate statistical methods to verify the differences between subspecies. Moreover, the possible geographic differentiation of <em>A. cilicica</em> subsp. <em>cilicica</em> populations from the East Taurus and Lebanon Mountains was examined. <em>Abies cilicica</em> subsp. <em>isaurica</em> has been distinguished from <em>A. cilicica</em> subsp. <em>cilicica</em> by its glabrous young shoots and resinous buds. We detected that needles of <em>A. cilicica</em> subsp. <em>isaurica</em> are longer, broader and thicker, with a higher number of stomata rows, and larger cells of the epidermis, hypodermis and endodermis than <em>A. cilicica</em> subsp. <em>cilicica</em>. Additionally, <em>A. cilicica</em> subsp. <em>isaurica</em> needles have frequently rounded to obtuse-acute apex and resinous canals positioned more centrally inside the mesophyll than needles of <em>A. cilicica</em> subsp. <em>cilicica</em>. This indicates that a set of most of the tested needle characters can be used to distinguish the subspecies; however, any of characters enable that when used separately. Morphological and anatomical distinctiveness between these two taxa justify their recognition at the subspecies rank. Additionally, the populations of <em>A. cilicica</em> subsp. <em>cilicica</em> from the East Taurus and Lebanon are morphologically different. This geographic differentiation of populations is congruent with results provided by genetic analyses of nuclear microsatellites markers (nSSR).
Effect of geographic range discontinuity on taxonomic differentiation of Abies cilicica
