S. KURAL, A. SUKATAR, A. ŞENKARDEŞLER / Ege Uni. J. of Faculty of Sci., Vol. 39 (1), 2015, 39 - 47 39 (REFEREED RESEARCH) FERNS AND FERN ALLIES OF RIZE PROVINCE Sinem KURAL, Atakan SUKATAR, Ayhan ŞENKARDEŞLER* 1 Ege University Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Izmir, Turkey Received: 27.11.2014 Accepted: 24.06.2015 Abstract: In this study, fern and fern allies of Rize province have been investigated. A total of 20 species and one hybrid have been determined. Athyrium distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz (Filicopsida) has been recorded as new to the province. Keywords: Ferns, flora, Rize, Turkey 1. INTRODUCTION The 23 species and one subspecies in the first publication on ferns in Rize province [1] suggest an even richer fern flora. The first papers published by Turkish scientists belong to Demiriz & Tutel [2] and Demiriz et al. [3]. These publications were valuable for the knowledge of the fern and fern allies of Rize province being a milestone in the history of the Turkish fern flora. They represent two and 13 species, respectively, from the province and provide important information on distributions of fern species. Finally, five additional species and four hybrids were reported from İkizdere and one hybrid from Çamlıhemşin districts [4]. Altogether 36 species and four hybrids became known from the province. The aim of this study is to fulfil the unexplored parts in Rize province and to increase the number of taxa. 2. MATERIAL AND METHOD In this study, fertile ferns were collected between 21 st – 28 th June 2002. Various keys were used for identifications [1, 5–9]. Identified specimens are deposited at the Aegean University Botanical Garden & Herbarium Research and Application Centre (EGE). * Corresponding Author: Tel: +90 232 3112449 Fax: +90 232 3881892 E-mail: ayhan.senkardesler@ege.edu.tr