BASED ON CYTOTAXONOMICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ASTRAGALUS REMOTIFLORUS SUBSP. NIGROHIRSUTUS IS RAISED TO SPECIES RANK

Astragalus remotiflorus Boiss. from section Anthylloidei DC. has three subspecies, that are endemic to Iran. A. remotiflorus subsp. nigrohirsutus is an endemic species in Fars province and is found on the mountain of Kharman kuh, 1760–3122 m. In this study cytological and morphological study were performed for this subspecies and A. remotiflorus subsp. remotiflorus, Also, the morphological characteristics of A. remotiflorus subsp. melanogramma were examined. The results indicate that A. remotiflorus subsp. nigrohirsutus is a hexaploid (2n=6x =48) with the karyotype formula of 15m+9sm. Symmetrical karyotype of this subspecies is in the class 2A. Morphological characteristics indicate that this subspecies with a small amount of mixed black hairs ca. 1 – 2.5 mm long on the peduncle and calyx distinguishes it from the other two subspecies. Also, it differs from subsp. melanogramma in having longer peduncle and lax inflorescence. A. remotiflorus subsp. nigrohirsutus is raised to the rank of species as A. nigrohirsutus.