Taxonomic composition and morphological diagnostic characters of Silene L. species in the Fergana Valley

Ushbu tadqiqotda Farg‘ona vodiysidagi Silene L. turkumining taksonomik tarkibi va morfologik diagnostik belgilari baholandi. Adabiyotlar, gerbariy materiallari, mintaqaviy floralar va taksonomik manbalar asosida 32 tur 12 seksiyaga ajratildi. Turlarga eng boy seksiya — sect. Sclerocalycinae (sakkiz tur; 25,00%), undan keyin sect. Holopetalae (olti tur; 18,75%). Seksiyalarni farqlashda asosiy belgilar sifatida kosachaning shakli va tomirlanishi, kosachaning shishganlik darajasi, gultoji plastinkasining bo‘linishi, gultoji tirnoqchasining tuzilishi, antoforning tukliligi, to‘pgul turi hamda ayrim vegetativ belgilar xizmat qildi. Natijalar Farg‘ona vodiysida Silene turlarini aniqlash uchun ixcham taksonomik asos beradi va keyingi ekologik, biogeografik hamda muhofaza tadqiqotlari uchun zamin yaratadi.

Vol. 5, Issue 9, 2026 ISSN 2181-3833 | Uzbekistan https://refocus.uz/

R E S E A R C H A R T I C L E • PEER-REVIEWED • OPEN ACCESS • SERIES A • 03.00.00 — BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES • UDC: 582.661:581.9

Taxonomic composition and morphological diagnostic characters of Silene L. species in the Fergana Valley Farg‘ona vodiysidagi Silene L. turlarining taksonomik tarkibi va morfologik diagnostik belgilari Таксономический состав и морфологические диагностические признаки видов Silene L. в Ферганской долине BAKHRIDDINOVA Durdona Yodgorbek qizi1,* , KHABIBULLAYEVA Mohlaroy Forkhodali qizi1 , HOSHIMOV Hushbaht Rustamjon ugli2 Namangan State University, Namangan, Uzbekistan Namangan Regional Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Namangan, Uzbekistan

* Corresponding author: durdonabaxriddinova5@gmail.com

ARTICLE TYPE Research Article LANGUAGE OF FULL TEXT English (EN) ☑ SCIENTIFIC FIELD / OAK 03.00.00 – Biological Sciences Biologiya fanlari Series A

ARTICLE HISTORY Received: 2026-09-03 Revised: 2026-09-11 Accepted: 2026-09-17 Published: 2026-09-30

DOI https://doi.org/10.66073/ReFocus.V5I9.0901

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licence.

AUTHOR, TITLE AND ABSTRACT METADATA (EN / UZ / RU)

ENGLISH BAKHRIDDINOVA Durdona Yodgorbek qizi1,* , KHABIBULLAYEVA Mohlaroy Forkhodali qizi1 , HOSHIMOV Hushbaht Rustamjon ugli2 Namangan State University, Namangan, Uzbekistan

2 Namangan Regional Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Namangan, Uzbekistan

Abstract. This study evaluates the taxonomic composition and morphological diagnostic characters of Silene L. in the Fergana Valley. Based on literature, herbarium material, regional floras, and taxonomic sources, 32 species were assigned to 12 sections. Sect. Sclerocalycinae was the most species-rich section with eight species (25.00%), followed by sect. Holopetalae with six species (18.75%). The principal characters used to distinguish sections were calyx shape and venation, degree of calyx inflation, division of the petal limb, structure of the petal claw, anthophore pubescence, inflorescence type, and selected vegetative traits. The results provide a concise taxonomic framework for identification of Silene species in the Fergana Valley and a basis for subsequent ecological, biogeographical, and conservation studies.

Keywords: Silene; Caryophyllaceae; Fergana Valley; taxonomy; section; taxonomic composition; morphological diagnosis; diagnostic characters; flora

O‘ZBEKCHA BAXRIDDINOVA Durdona Yodgorbek qizi1,* , XABIBULLAYEVA Mohlaroy Farhodali qizi1 , XOSHIMOV Xushbaxt Rustamjon o‘g‘li2 Namangan davlat universiteti, Namangan, O‘zbekiston 2 O‘zbekiston Respublikasi Fanlar akademiyasi Namangan hududiy bo‘limi, Namangan, O‘zbekiston

Annotatsiya. Ushbu tadqiqotda Farg‘ona vodiysidagi Silene L. turkumining taksonomik tarkibi va morfologik diagnostik belgilari baholandi. Adabiyotlar, gerbariy materiallari, mintaqaviy floralar va taksonomik manbalar asosida 32 tur 12 seksiyaga ajratildi. Turlarga eng boy seksiya — sect. Sclerocalycinae (sakkiz tur; 25,00%), undan keyin sect. Holopetalae (olti tur; 18,75%). Seksiyalarni farqlashda asosiy belgilar sifatida kosachaning shakli va tomirlanishi, kosachaning shishganlik darajasi, gultoji plastinkasining bo‘linishi, gultoji tirnoqchasining tuzilishi, antoforning tukliligi, to‘pgul turi hamda ayrim vegetativ belgilar xizmat qildi. Natijalar Farg‘ona vodiysida Silene turlarini aniqlash uchun ixcham taksonomik asos beradi va keyingi ekologik, biogeografik hamda muhofaza tadqiqotlari uchun zamin yaratadi. Kalit so‘zlar: Silene; Caryophyllaceae; Farg‘ona vodiysi; taksonomiya; seksiya; taksonomik tarkib; morfologik diagnostika; diagnostik belgilar; flora

How to cite / Iqtibos keltirish / Как цитировать: BAKHRIDDINOVA, D. Y., KHABIBULLAYEVA, M. F., HOSHIMOV, H. R. (2026). Taxonomic composition and morphological diagnostic characters of Silene L. species in the Fergana Valley. Research Focus International Scientific Journal, 5(9), 20–23. https://doi.org/10.66073/ReFocus.V5I9.0901 © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Research Focus International Scientific Journal. Open access article under the CC BY 4.0 licence. HAC / OAK: On the HAC list of national scientific publications (Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan) for 06.00.00 Agricultural Sciences and 16.00.00 Veterinary Sciences. O‘zbekiston Respublikasi FA huzuridagi OAK ro‘yxatida: 06.00.00 – Qishloq xo‘jaligi fanlari; 16.00.00 – Veterinariya fanlari.

РУССКИЙ БАХРИДДИНОВА Дурдона Ёдгорбек кизи1,* , ХАБИБУЛЛАЕВА Мохларой Фарходали кизи1 , ХОШИМОВ Хушбахт Рустамжон угли2 Наманганский государственный университет, Наманган, Узбекистан Наманганское региональное отделение Академии наук Республики Узбекистан, Наманган, Узбекистан

Аннотация. В исследовании оценены таксономический состав и морфологические диагностические признаки рода Silene L. в Ферганской долине. На основе литературы, гербарных материалов, региональных флор и таксономических источников 32 вида отнесены к 12 секциям. Наиболее богатой видами оказалась секция Sclerocalycinae (восемь видов; 25,00%), за ней следует секция Holopetalae (шесть видов; 18,75%). Основными признаками для разграничения секций служили форма и жилкование чашечки, степень её вздутости, рассечённость пластинки лепестка, строение ноготка лепестка, опушённость антофора, тип соцветия и отдельные вегетативные признаки. Результаты дают компактную таксономическую основу для определения видов Silene в Ферганской долине и базу для последующих экологических, биогеографических и природоохранных исследований. Ключевые слова: Silene; Caryophyllaceae; Ферганская долина; таксономия; секция; таксономический состав; морфологическая диагностика; диагностические признаки; флора

The genus Silene L. is one of the largest, most widely distributed, and taxonomically complex genera of Caryophyllaceae Juss. Its major centres of diversity are associated with the Mediterranean region, Western Asia, and the mountainous areas of Central Asia (Greuter 1995, Oxelman and Lidén 1995, Lazkov 2006). Pronounced morphological polymorphism, diversity of life forms and reproductive systems, and broad ecological amplitude make the genus important for floristic, taxonomic, and evolutionary research. Generative morphology is particularly informative for species and sectional delimitation in Silene. Diagnostic characters commonly include calyx shape, structure, venation and inflation; degree of division of the petal limb; morphology of the petal claw; anthophore pubescence; and inflorescence architecture. These characters have also been widely used in floristic treatments and identification keys for Central Asia. The Fergana Valley is characterised by complex orography, steep elevational gradients, heterogeneous substrates, and diverse microclimatic conditions, all of which contribute to high floristic diversity (Belolipov et al., 2013; Sennikov & Khasanov, 2017). Recent studies have also highlighted its floristic and conservation importance through new plant records and the recognition of priority areas such as the Shorsuv and Yozyovon massifs (Tojibaev & Hoshimov, 2024; Tojibaev et al., 2025, 2026). Against this background, an updated assessment of the regional Silene flora is needed to clarify species composition, sectional affiliation, and key morphological diagnostic characters. Accordingly, this study aimed to (1) determine the taxonomic composition of Silene in the Fergana Valley, (2) analyse the distribution of species among sections, and (3) summarise the principal morphological characters useful for distinguishing these sections. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study focused on species of Silene L. (Caryophyllaceae) occurring in the Fergana Valley. The taxonomic dataset was compiled from regional floristic literature, herbarium material, taxonomic treatments, and identification manuals. Species circumscription and sectional placement followed the taxonomic approaches used in Lazkov’s treatment of Caryophyllaceae, Flora of the USSR, the Key to Plants of Central Asia, and the study cited in the source manuscript as Edalatiyan et al. (2010) (Lazkov 2006, Kovalevskaja 1971). Nomenclature, sectional affiliation, and morphology were compared across sources. Diagnostic assessment considered both generative and vegetative characters, with primary emphasis on calyx shape, inflation and venation, calyx teeth, division of the petal limb, presence or absence of auricles on the petal claw, and anthophore pubescence. Inflorescence type, stem and leaf pubescence, leaf shape, and life form were treated as supplementary characters. Section-specific features were also considered where informative. These included needle-like or filiform leaves in sect. Spergulifoliae, linear-tubular grass-like leaves in sect. Graminiformes, variation in caudex and leaf morphology in sect. Holopetalae, narrow few-flowered inflorescences and glandular-sticky pubescence in sect. Chloranthae, and dichotomous or racemose inflorescences in sect. Auriculatae. Species counts and proportional representation were then calculated for each section.

3. RESULTS 3.1. Taxonomic composition of Silene in the Fergana Valley A total of 32 Silene species were recognised in the flora of the Fergana Valley and assigned to 12 sections (Table 1). The sections differed markedly in species richness, ranging from one to eight species. Table 1 Taxonomic composition of Silene L. species in the Fergana Valley by section No. Section No. Species Silene nevskii 1 Schischk. 1 Auriculatae Silene guntensis Boiss. 2 (B.Fedtsch.) B.Fedtsch. ex Schischk. Silene neoladyginae 2 Chloranthae Lazkov Rohrb. Silene gavrilovii (Krasn.) Popov 5 Silene conoidea L. Conoimorpha Silene coniflora Nees 3 Otth in DC. ex Otth 7 Silene conica L. 4 Holopetalae Silene kungessana Schischk. B.Fedtsch. 9 Silene schischkinii (Popov) Vved.

No. Section No. Species Silene trajectorum Kom. Silene schugnanica B.Fedtsch. Silene obovata Schischk. 13 Silene fetissovii Lazkov Silene vulgaris 5 Inflatae Boiss. 14 (Moench) Garcke Silene fedtschenkoana Melandriforme 15 6 Preobr. s Boiss. 16 Silene noctiflora L. Silene samarkandensis Odontopetalae 17 7 Preobr. Schischk. 18 Silene nana Kar. & Kir. Silene longicalycina 19 Kom. Silene pugionifolia Popov 21 Silene praelonga Ovcz.

Silene fedtschenkoi Sclerocalycina Bondarenko & Vved. 8 e (Boiss.) Silene eviscosa Schischk. 23 Bondarenko & Vved.

Silene schmalhausenii 24 Popov Silene tachtensis 25 Franch. Silene obtusidentata B.Fedtsch. & Popov 27 Silene brahuica Boiss. Silene kuschakewiczii Spergulifoliae 28 9 Regel & Schmalh. Boiss. Silene korshinskyi Schischk. Stenonychium Silene turkestanica 10 30 Bunge Regel Viridiflorae 11 31 Silene nutans L. Boiss. Graminiformes 12 32 Silene graminifolia Otth Lazkov

Species richness was highest in sect. Sclerocalycinae (8 species; 25.00%), followed by sect. Holopetalae (6 species; 18.75%). Sect. Conoimorpha and sect. Spergulifoliae each contained three species (9.38%). Four sections—Auriculatae, Chloranthae, Melandriformes, and Odontopetalae—were represented by two species each (6.25%), whereas Inflatae, Stenonychium, Viridiflorae, and Graminiformes were represented by one species each (3.13%) (Table 2).

Table 2 Distribution of Silene L. species among sections in the Fergana Valley Number of No. Section Proportion (%) species 1 Sclerocalycinae 8 25.00 2 Holopetalae 6 18.75 3 Conoimorpha 3 9.38 4 Spergulifoliae 3 9.38 5 Auriculatae 2 6.25 6 Chloranthae 2 6.25 7 Melandriformes 2 6.25 8 Odontopetalae 2 6.25 9 Inflatae 1 3.13

10 Stenonychium 1 3.13 11 Viridiflorae 1 3.13 12 Graminiformes 1 3.13 Total 32 100.00

3.2. Morphological diagnostic characters of the sections

Sectional delimitation was supported by a combination of floral and vegetative characters. The most informative traits were calyx shape, degree of inflation and vein number; pubescence of the calyx teeth; division of the petal limb; presence or absence of auricles on the petal claw; and anthophore pubescence (Lazkov 2006, Kovalevskaja 1971). Vegetative characters were particularly useful in selected groups, including needle-like or filiform leaves in sect. Spergulifoliae, grass-like linear-tubular leaves in sect. Graminiformes, and variation in caudex and leaf morphology in sect. Holopetalae.

In the Fergana Valley, sect. Auriculatae is represented by S. nevskii and S. guntensis. It is characterised by perennial life forms, glandular or eglandular pubescence on the stems and calyces, dichotomous to racemose inflorescences, cylindrical-clavate calyces, and an auriculate expansion near the upper part of the petal claw. Sect. Chloranthae, represented by S. neoladyginae and S. gavrilovii, is distinguished by glandular-sticky pubescence, narrow few-flowered inflorescences, elongate-clavate glandular calyces, bifid petal limbs, and non-auriculate claws.

Sect. Conoimorpha comprises S. conoidea, S. coniflora, and S. conica. Its members are annual herbs with dichasial inflorescences, ovoid to conical-tubular calyces with 15–30 parallel veins, emarginate or bifid petal limbs, and claws that are auriculate toward the apex. The less species-rich sections are nevertheless morphologically distinctive: S. vulgaris (sect. Inflatae) has an inflated calyx; S. turkestanica (sect. Stenonychium) has a long calyx and narrow petal claw; S. nutans (sect. Viridiflorae) is characterised by greenish flowers; and S. graminifolia (sect. Graminiformes) by grass-like leaves.

The recognition of 32 species in 12 sections demonstrates substantial infrageneric diversity of Silene in the Fergana Valley. The uneven sectional distribution is especially evident in the predominance of sect. Sclerocalycinae and sect. Holopetalae. The relatively high representation of Sclerocalycinae may be associated with the prevalence of dry, rocky habitats in the valley and adjacent foothill and mountain areas, environments in which Caryophyllaceae are well represented in Central (Lazkov 2006, Kovalevskaja 1971). This ecological interpretation, however, should be tested with explicit habitat and distribution data. Morphological evidence indicates that sectional identification is most reliable when several characters are evaluated together rather than individually. Calyx morphology is particularly informative, but similar states may occur in different sections. Consequently, characters of the petal limb and claw, anthophore pubescence, inflorescence architecture, leaf morphology, and indumentum provide important complementary evidence. This combinedcharacter approach is consistent with the taxonomic complexity of Silene highlighted by Greuter (Greuter 1995), while molecular studies of Sileneae (Oxelman and Lidén 1995) further indicate that morphology-based sectional boundaries should ultimately be evaluated in a phylogenetic framework.

The present synthesis therefore provides a practical regional framework for species identification and sectional comparison, while also identifying a clear next step: integration of morphological evidence with georeferenced distributional, ecological, and molecular data. Such integration would allow the taxonomic patterns documented here to be tested in biogeographical and conservation contexts.

The Fergana Valley flora contains 32 recognised species of Silene assigned to 12 sections. Sect. Sclerocalycinae is the most species-rich (8 species; 25.00%), followed by sect. Holopetalae (6 species; 18.75%). Sectional delimitation is supported mainly by a combination of calyx and petal characters, supplemented by anthophore pubescence, inflorescence type, and vegetative morphology. These results establish a taxonomic basis for future ecological, biogeographical, phylogenetic, and conservation studies of Silene in the Fergana Valley.

Author contributions CRediT Conceptualization; Methodology; Investigation; Data curation; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Funding This research received no external funding. Ethics approval The study was based on literature data, herbarium material and regional floras of plants only; no human participants or animals were involved, and no ethics committee approval was required. Informed consent All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript and have given their consent to its submission and publication. The study involved no human participants and no personal data. Data availability statement The data obtained in the study are presented in the tables of this article; the primary records are available from the authors on reasonable request. Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. Generative AI disclosure Generative AI (Claude, Anthropic) was used in the editorial preparation of this article: for language editing, translation of the title, abstract and keywords between Uzbek, Russian and English, preparation of the extended English summary from the authors' text, and formatting of the reference list. No data, results or conclusions were generated by AI. The authors are responsible for the content of the publication.