Taxonomic study of Thymus eriocalyx (Ronniger) Jalas in Iran with emphasis on Floristic marker and using special station method

Thymus L. is one of the largest genus of Lamiaceae family. This species had cammercial values due to containing essential oils and also its wide applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. From this genus، 18 species have been identified in Iran. Because of the gene flow potentiality among populations، a high morphological diversity exists among them. Thymus eriocalyx (Ronniger) Jalas is one of the species of this genus that is distributed only in west of Iran and also north of Iraq to determine intraspecific variations in T. eriocalyx from taxonomic point of view and effective ecological factors، data were collected using special station method. In this way، ten special stations were recognized for T. eriocalyx in west of Iran. Results from floristic data analysis (floristic composition of each special station) with MVSP software by PCO method، led to the identification of 6 separate groups that was indicative of the existence of intraspecific diversity. Furthermore morphometric data analysis of individual collected from each special station، by using 33 vegetative and reproductive characters، with PCO and UPGMA methods، confirmed 5-mentioned floristic groups. Ecologic data analysis with CCA method showed that various ecological factors are effective in grouping and forming special stations diversity، so that among studied factors، altitude، soil texture and permeability and slop direction factors were all effective in groupment of special stations. On this base، at least 3 ecodemes were identifiable and thus، could be introduced.