A TAXONOMIC STUDY OF ACANTHOPHYLLUM C. A. MEY. (CARYOPHYLLACEAE) IN IRAN

The genus Acanthophyllum in Iran has been revised. According to the results of the present study three species i.e., A. gracile Bunge ex Boiss., A. pachycephalum Schiman-Czeika & A. kandaharicum Gilli are reduced to the rank of variety under A. bracteatum Boiss. In addition, following nine synonymies are made: A. leucostegium Schiman-Czeika and A. khuzistanicum Rech. f. as synonimies of A. bracteatum Boiss., A. kurdicum Boiss. & Hausskn. is treated as a synonym of A. crassifolium Boiss., A. microcephalum Boiss. as a synonym of A. mucronatum C. A. Mey., A. crassinodum Yukhan. & Edmondson and A. chloroleucum Rech. f. & Aell. as synonymies of A. glandulosum Bunge ex Boiss., A. borsczowii Litw. as a synonym of A. elatius Bunge ex Boiss., A. heterophyllum Reach. f. as a synonym of A. stocksianum Boiss. and finally A. heratense Schiman-Czeika as a synonym of A. laxiusculum Schiman-Czeika. Identification keys, descriptions and geographical distribution of all consisting taxa are included.