The Iranian Journal of Botany
Volume:26 Issue: 1, Winter and Spring 2020

Acantolimon saadii is described as a new species, the specimens of the new species have been collected from a locality in Fars province. The new species belongs to Acantholimon sect. Tragacanthina subsect. Stenostoma and is most closely related to Acantholimon karelinii, a species confined to N. and NW. of Iran and adjacent areas in Caucasus and Tuekey. The differences are in the length of calyx and bracteole characters. An identification key is prepared for the species of subsection Stenostoma to include the new species. Acantholimon saadii extends the distribution of the subsection Stenostoma from Kashan area as the southernmost distribution in Isfahan province to Fars province.

Astragalus lignipes (Fabaceae), a new species of sect. Dissitiflori will be described here based on morphological and molecular data (ITS and matK sequences). Our Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Phylogenetic Inference analyses show that the new species is most closely related to A. aestimabilis, A. aucheri and A. xiphidium. It is characterized by long woody basal stems, chartaceous bracts and long pedicels. We provide information on the distribution and habitat of the new species with taxonomic notes about it and its sister taxa. We also assess the conservation status of the new species according to IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered.

During the working on vegetation of the Khuzestan province, and recently plant collection the author found a small community of Clematis L. in Shalo and Mongasht protected area, beside Shivand seasonal river, this species with special characters, introduced as new species, Clematis khuzestanica from Iran.

Dianthus pendulus Boiss. & C.I. Blanche that was previously reported from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Palaestine, is described as a new record for the first time, from Hamedan Province in the west of Iran. Morphological description, distribution and photographs of this new record are given.

Nonea echioides, a species native to the Mediterranean area, is reported from Aras and Qizil Üzan riversides as a rediscovered species for the flora of Iran. A detailed description and photographs of diagnostic features are provided as well as some notes on its micromorphology, distribution and the last state of nomenclature are presented.

Asphodelus L. is a widespread genus with about 20 species in the Asphodelaceae family. Most of its species are distributed in Mediterranean regions and among them Asphodelus fistulosus as a species with a broad ecological range is recorded from Gilan and Mazandaran provinces in North of Iran for the first time. The populations of this species are observed on the roadside, abandoned, disturbed farms and gardens.

Physalis angulata L. is reported as a new record for the flora of Iran. A taxonomic description along with the illustrations of the species are prepared on the basis of some collections from Fars province, Iran.

Onosma is taxonomically a problematic genus and its infrageneric delimitation is not clear. Using nuclear (ITS) and two plastid (rpl32-trn L(UAG) and trnH–psbA) markers on 87 species of Onosma throughout their distribution range, phylogenetic relationships within Onosma was reconstructed. Morphological character evolution was mapped on the previously studied nr DNA ITS tree. In the NeighborNet analaysis, the groups formed in the splits graph are correlated to the clades retrieved in the phylogenies. The results suggested that O. rostellata is more closely related to Sino-Indian species of Onosma. Among 10 morphological characters selected, six characters including basic chromosome number, type of indumentum, corolla length, nectar trichome, sectioned calyx and calyx cleft represent the most important synapomorphies for Onosma species.

Section Incani is one of the most species-rich section of Astragalus, ranging throughout Southern Europe, North Africa, Turkey, Iran, central Asia and Caucasus. Ninety-two of 140 species in the section were analyzed using nuclear ITS and chloroplast rpl32-trnL(UAG)markers representing the full range of morphological variation and geographical distribution. The NeighborNet analysis revealed two major lineages, reflecting the biogeographical distribution of sect. Incani. This analysis postulates an east-west pattern of dispersal revealing a major phylogenetic split between eastern and western lineages. A large assemblage (lineage II) comprises the great majority of species of section Incani s.s. from west and northwestern Iran and Turkey along with A. incanus and A. monspessulanus, both restricted to southern Europe and exhibits the bulk of species diversity. We used Mesquite software to reconstruct patterns of evolution of morphological characters within the section. Six morphological diagnostic characters (life form, corolla color, leaflet number, presence or absence of bracteole, hair color of calyx and the bracts color) were mapped on the concatenated tree using Mesquite software. The reliance on morphological characters alone in the delimitation of species in Astragalus sect. Incani may well lead to erroneous phylogenetic results and thus to incorrect taxonomic conclusions.

In the present study we report somatic chromosome numbers of four Nepeta species including: N. laxiflora (2n=18), N. depauperata (2n=34), N. archibaldii (2n=16) and N. dschuparensis (2n=18). These species are endemics of Iran and the chromosome number for these species are reported here for the first time.

Original meiotic chromosome numbers are reported for seven species in four families of mosses from Iran including: Amblystegium serpens (n=19), Anomodon rugelii (n=11), Didymodon tophaceus (n=13), Drepanocladus exannulatus (n=11), Eucladium verticillatum (n=11), Fissidens viridulus var. tenuifolius (n=10) and Grimmia pulvinata (n=13). Chromosome count for Fissidens viridulus var. tenuifolius is reported here for the first time. Report for five other species are new for flora of Iran.

Somatic chromosome numbers of 6 species from 3 families were studied in this research. The chromosome numbers for 3 taxa including Dicyclophora persica 2n=22,Pycnocycla caespitosa 2n=22, and Phlomis polioxantha 2n=20 are new reports.Also, the chromosome number of Halimodendron halodendron 2n= 16 has been reported here for the first time for the flora of Iran. ThechromosomenumberofPycnocyclaspinosaandEremostachys macrophylla is2n=22. Ideograms are depicted for each species.

The effect of ecological factors and their interactions on quantitative changes of 20 anatomical and two morphological traits of leaves in six different populations of Alnus subcordata C. A. Mey. in the west and east of the Hyrcanian forests in three elevation classes include lowland, midland and highland were analyzed and compared. Leaf area, glandular trichomes, thickness of cuticle cells, and stomatal density decreased from west to east and were significantly different in three classes of altitude. There is a positive correlation between traits. Leaf thickness and thickness of adaxial epidermal cells, from west to east, were also significantly influenced by the interaction of ecological features. The decrease rainfall from west to east and altitude have affected the mentioned anatomical traits. Thickness and width of palisade cells, thickness of spongy cells, number of spongy layers and the thickness of the main veins from east to west were not significant, but in terms of elevations, their differences were significant. Also, there was a positive correlation between leaf area, stomatal density, glandular trichome maximal length, cuticle thickness and vein thickness. Number of adaxial collenchymas layers of vein, thickness of vein abaxial parenchyma cells, number of abaxial parenchyma layers of vein and thickness of vascular bundle of vein also increased significantly as altitude increased. Various types of stomata have also been observed in this species.