Taxonomic study of seven species of Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) based on molecular and morphological data in Iran.

In order to evaluate the taxonomy of seven species of the genus Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) morphological data (quantitative and qualitative) of 15 populations from Iran, were selected to reconstruct their relationships based on molecular data (nrDNA ITS). The morphological results showed high polymorphism intra and inter the populations of species and inter species and molecular data could only show the separation of species with limited distribution. The presence of different populations of V. pseudodigitalis with wide distribution range (Kermanshah Provinceto Fars Province) in different parts of the phylogenetic tree and inter other species of the genus indicated the variety of characters and adaptation of the plant in different ecological conditions The presented data was not able to separate the species of this genus without overlapping, which might be due to an aneuploidy, polyploidy, high percentage of polymorphism and hybridization of species.Keywords: Polymorphism, hybridization, morphology, Verbascum L., nrDNA ITS.