Systematic study of Nyctaginaceae in Iran

In this research, biosystematics of some species of Nyctaginaceae in Iran were studied using morphological and micromorphological characters for the first time. Statistical results using SPSS Ver. 20 and Past Ver. 1.98 softwares showed that, the most important characters for determinating Nyctaginaceae species are length to wide ratio of achene, length of filament, type of infloresence, number of flowers in peduncles, shape and length of bracts, style length, smallest leaf length, and length to a wide ratio of bracts. Anatomical studies using cross sections of stems, leaves, petiole, and epidermis of the species were also carried out. The main characteristics such as the thickness and number of the vascular bundle of leaf and stem, the shape of the petiole in the cross section, the thickness of the secondary and primary phloem as well as primary xylem in the leaf cross section showed significant differences. The diagnostic characteristics in the epidermis were the stomatal type and shape of epidermis cells. In addition, an identification key is provided based on anatomical features. This is the first report on the anatomical structure of this family in Iran. In palynological studies, the pollen grains of C. stenocarpus and B. elegans have been investigated for the first time. Pollen grains were spherical to oblate-spheroidal with spinulose ornamentation and reticulate. The present study proved that, pollen characters are mostly useful in determination at the generic level. Finally, anatomical features such as the anatomical structure of Kranz, thickness of the parenchyma layer and stomatal type of leaf epidermis as well as morphological features confirmed separation of Boerhavia and Commicarpus as two distinct genera.