The Iranian Journal of Botany
Volume:9 Issue: 1, Summer and Autumn 2001

Estimation of nuclear DNA content through cytophoto-densitometer in somatic cells and karyotype analysis were carried out for the first time in ten cultivars of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Somatic chromosome number is reported 2n=16 in all the cultivars. Detailed karyotype analysis revealed cultivar specific chromosomal characteristics and minute structural alterations in chromosomes. The 4C DNA content varied significantly from 7.23 pg in the cultivar TG-103 to 9.12 pg in TG-09. Significant variations in the genome length, volume and total form percentage were noted at cultivar level. A positive significant correlation coefficient revealed interdependence between the chromosome volume and nuclear DNA content of the cultivars. Significant variations in 4C nuclear DNA content among different cultivars despite the same somatic chromosome number suggest a changes in the repetitive DNA sequences of the genomes.

Chromosome counts are given for 5 species of Moraceae belonging to 2 genera (Morus and Ficus) from Iran. Chromosome numbers (2n) for F. johannis and F. rupestris are reported for the first time. The collections cover the entire range of family from Iran.

Based on the SEM studies. the pollen morphology of 8 species of the genus Nepeta L. Sect.Psilonepeta native to Iran is described and compared. Taxonomic value of pollen morphology is discussed. Differences in size and ornamentation of pollen and other conclusions from morpological and anatonical data, suggest that N. denudata should be transferred to Sect. Denudata supporting Budanstsev’s treatment.

The pollen morphology of 42 species belonging to 32 genera of Boraginaceae have been investigated by SEM and sometimes by LM. The results confirm the eurypalinous character of this family, in which a large number of species can be recognized by their pollen characters. The palynological result revealed that pollen grains of the family posses tricolporate aperture and other types derived from it and are primarily divided into two groups by having and lacking pseudocolpi. The taxonomic implications of the pollen morphological features are discussed.

Phenetic analyses of morphological characters were performed on 19 populations of two Atropa species, namely A. belladonna and A. acuminata. Different clustering and ordination methods as well as discriminant analysis, supported taxonomic treatment of these species. New morphological characters are suggested for the delimitationof Atropa species.

The new subsection Alyssum sect. Odontarrhena subsect. Stipitata is described, Alyssum stipitatum is designated as the type.Alyssum mozaffarianii, A. stipitatum and Farsetia assadii are described as new species.Alyssum argenteum, A. callichroum, A. condensatum, A. harputicum, A. obtusifolium, A. sibiricum, A. singarense, Farsetia longisiliqua and F. stylosa are reported as new records to Iran.

This study has been based on the examination of many new collections from Zagros mountains. Cousinia kermanshahensis is described from Kermanshah province. It is compared with the closest relative. Due to the collection of new materials, poor descriptions of Cousinia sefidiana and C. disfulensis are completed. Cousinia hakkarica and C. algurdina are new reports from NW. Iran. Cousinia wettesteiniana is separated from C. canescens as a distinct species. Distribution map is given for some of the species.

A. new isolated species of Astragalus, sect. Caprini (Fabaceae) from Khorassan, A. zangooianus is described as new from E. Iran, Khorassan province.

Tulipa humilis subsp. matinae is described as new subspecies from Iran. This subspecies is separated by the differences in some of the quantitative and qualitative characters.

In this paper Astragalus meimandicus Maassoumi & Vakili as a new species and A. sparsus Del. ex Decne. as a new record are presented for the science.

The genus Pluchea was represented in Iran by two indigenous species P. lanceolata and P. arguta. In a study in the Herbarium of Research Institute of Forests and Rangeland, P. dioscoridis was identified as a new for the flora of Iran.

Rochelia retrosepala is described as new to science. Hormuzakia aggregata (Lehm.) Gusuleac is reported for the first time from Iran.

Delphinium venulosum Boiss., Stachys melampyroides Hand.–Mzt., Schoenoplectus bucharicus (Roshev.) Grossh., Carlina kurdica Meusel & Kastner and Helianthemum ledifolium (L.) Miller var. lasiocarpum (Willk.) Boiss. are reported for the first time as new records from Iran.

Polygonum glubrum is reported for the first time from Iran. It grows usually in weedy habitats as as a weed of crop fields.

Cicer bijugum collected in Kermanshah province is reported for the first time from Iran. It is easily distinguished from C. arietinum by having tuberculate-echinulate seeds.

The foliar anatomy of the Caryophyllaceae family from Arasbaran Protected Area including the following species were studied under light microscope: Arenaria dianthoides, Arenaria gypsophiloides, Arenaria serpyllifolia, Cerastium glomeratum, Cerastium holosteoides, Cerastium szowitsii, Dianthus cretaceus, Dianthus crinitus, Gypsophila elegans, Herniaria hirsuta, Herniaria incana, Minuartia hirsuta, Minuartia acuminata, Minuartia lineata, Minuartia meyeri, Minuartia recurva, Silene alba, Silene ruprechtii, Silene spergulifolia and Stellaria media. The different anatomical characters on Caryophyllaceae family indicate flexibility of this family in various ecological circumstances.

Original chromosome observations of 23 populations representing 11 species, 3 subspecies and 2 varieties are reported. Six are new reports and nine are confirmations or corrections of previous counts. Meiotic behaviour of chromosomes are reported for the first time.

Isolepis cernua (Vahl) Roemer & Schultes is reported as new for the flora of Iran. The species has been collected from the coast of the Caspian Sea in Chamkhaleh (Langerud), in Gilan province. It has not been previously reported from the “Flora Iranica” area. Differences between I. cernua and the other Iranian species, I. setacea (L.) R. Br. are discussed and their geographical distribution is demonstrated.

The structure of the fruit of 10 taxa belonging to the genus Veronica L. from Iran is studied morphologically and anatomically. An exact description of fruit characteristics is presented for each taxon. A natural grouping of these taxa on the basis of fruit seems to be possible. Corresponding to fruit structure a key to examined taxa is provided.