Intra and inter-specific morphological variations in the genus Urtica L. (Urticaceae), new key and new descriptions for species in Iran

Urtica L. (Urticaceae) including U. dioica L., U. urens L. and U. pilulifera L. in Iran. The present study has been conducted for morphological investigations in Urtica populations concerning intra and inter-specific variation in Iran by using numerical taxonomy method. 13 populations from three species scrutinized based on 60 quantitative and qualitative morphological characters of vegetative and reproductive characteristics. The obtained data from morphometric characteristics table were statistically analyzed in terms of numerical taxonomy using software SPSS- VER. 16. Based on the obtained results, evaluation of phenetic relationships from the clustering, showed distinctness of the Urtica species. New key and new descriptions for species were prepared for Urtica L. in Iran, that in addition to completing the morphological characteristics mentioned in previous flora, the characteristics related to the nut and the pollen grain features have been also used as well for the first time. Based on this study U. cannabina L. species unaccepted for flora of Iran as previous recent study.