This study confirms that ultrasonic extraction may be an ideal, simple and rapid method to obtain polyphenol-rich extracts have antioxidant as well as antibacterial activity from both Centaurea species especially from C. amaena.

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Astragalus argaeus is a critically endangered endemic species growing only on Erciyes Mountain in Kayseri, Turkey. In this study, morphology, anatomy, ecology, pollen and seed morphology and karyology of this species were investigated. The previous description of the species has been expanded and amended. Anatomically, cross-sections of root, stem and leaflet were investigated for the first time. The pith of the root is exactly covered by xylem tissue. The cross-section of stem has a periderm as the protective tissue at the outermost layer. The leaflets are equifacial (isobilateral) and amphistomatic. The pollen grains are tricolporate, isopolar and radially symmetrical, shape prolate, ornamentation faevolate-reticulate. The seeds are brownish and dark dotted in colour and oblate in shape, with rugulate-reticulate ornamentation. Number of somatic chromosomes was identified as 2n = 16 in A. argaeus. The karyotype formula of this species consists of three median chromosome pairs and five submedian chromosome pairs. The plant grows in slightly acidic or alkaline soils with loamy-sand texture, high organic matter and CaCO3 contents.

Anatomical, palynological, karyological and morphological seed characters of Silene brevicalyx and S. ozyurtii (Caryophyllaceae) were investigated for the first time. S. brevicalyx grows on serpentine rocky slopes and open forest in Muğla province (southwestern Turkey), while S. ozyurtii is an East Mediterranean element growing on serpentine stony slopes and again open forest. Anatomically, cross-section of root of both species have a periderm as the protective tissue at the outermost layer and locally druse crystals are encountered in cortex layer. Stems have a thick well-developed sclerenchyma layer. The walls of outward sclerenchyma cells are wider than the walls of inward cells. Leaves are equifacial. Pollen are prolate-spheroidal, symmetry radially, polarity apolar, with aperture periporate, ornamentation microechinate-perforate. Seeds of both species are reniform, with surface concave and granulation coarse-medium, hylar zone recessed, dark-brown or fuscous coloured. Somatic chromosome numbers of 2n = 24 were found for both taxa. The karyotypes are analyzed for the first time for S. brevicalyx and S. ozyurtii. Ideograms of these taxa were drawn by use of an Image Analysis System.

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