MICRO-MACROMORPHOLOGICAL SURVEY OF SOME LATHYRUS SPECIES IN IRAN

Taxonomy of the genus Lathyrus with 23 species in Iran has been controversial especially at sectional level. This study is based on the morphological and palynological evidences. 28 morphological and 7 palynological characters belonging to 13 Iranian Lathyrus species were examined. Our results showed that L. sect. Nissolia with simple leaves is monotypic and includes only L. nissolia. Lathyrus vinealis, L. sphaericus, L. inconspicuus were transferred from the section Nissolia to the section Linearicarpus based on the flower and pollen morphology. Morphological and palynological evidences were also used for transferring L. gorgoni and L. rotundifolius from the section Gorgoni to the section Lathyrus. In addition, based on the stipule, tendril and pollen morphology, L. pratensis was segregated from L. aphaca and transferred to L. sect. Pratensis.