MICROMORPHOLOGICAL AND TAXONOMICAL STUDY OF THE GENUS PAPAVER SECT. MECONIDIUM (PAPAVERACEAE) IN IRAN

Pollen grains and seed morphology of nine taxa from Papaver L. genus belonging to section Meconidium were examined by using light and scanning electron microscopy and their taxonomic significance evaluated. The basic shape of pollen grains in most studied taxa is prolate – spheroidal, but suboblate and oblate – spheroidal pollen grains also have been seen. The grains are tricolpate and their surface is microechinate. Seeds are reniform; the shape of epidermal cells is polygonal or rectangular and anticlinal walls of epidermal cells are mostly sinuate, rarely straight. Our results revealed that palynogical data are not of much taxonomic significance in separation of taxa, whereas differences in seed characteristics among the taxa are valuable in separating taxa at specific and infraspecific levels in the section. Also, during taxonomical studies of the genus, we found a new variety which is described as P. persicum subsp. persicum var. glabrum. P. persicum subsp. microcarpum (Boiss.) Kadereit is recorded here for the first time from W. Iran. Moreover, two new hybrids are recognized in Iran: 1) P. persicum × P. armeniacum, 2) P. armeniacum subsp. armeniacum × subsp. pilgerianum. For these taxa, taxonomical characteristics, localities, identification key and geographical distributions are given.