The Iranian Journal of Botany
Volume:10 Issue: 2, Summer and Autumn 2004

The study was carried out on three stations at the coasts of Lengeh province at the south of Iran and north of the Persian Gulf. 119 species of algae collected and identified from this area are presented. These include 29 Chlorophyceae (3 new), 31 Phaeophyceae (4 new), and 59 Rhodophyceae (2 new).

Following examination by light microscope of the stem and leaf features of species of Odontites from Iran; anatomical study revealed that these taxa can be separated on the basis of leaf features. A key distinguishing these taxa is provided. O. glutinosa differs from other studied species in having isobilateral cross section.

The foliar anatomy of the Umbelliferae family from Arasbaran Protected Area including following species were studied under light microscope: Albovia tripartita, Bupleurum falcatum, Bupleurum gerardii, Carum carvi, Caucalis platycarpos, Cervaria caucasica, Chaerophyllum aureum, Cymbocarpum anethoides, Daucus broteri, Eryngium caucasicum, Falcaria vulgaris, Heracleum pastinacifolium, Heracleum persicum, Laser trilobum, Pimpinella aurea, Pimpinella tragium, Prangos ferulacea, Sanicula europaea, Seseli peucedanoides, Trinia leiogona. The different anatomical characters on Umbelliferae indicated flexibility of this family in various ecological circumstances.

Cousinia section Serratuloideae has 14 species in Iran including two new species “C. sheidaiana and C. elburzensis” to be described and one transfered species “C. adenostegia”. All species of this section except C. pterocaulos are endemic to Iran. Comparative anatomy of the leaf (except C. olivieri and C. alfredii) and stem (some of the species) of the species of the section Serratuloideae is presented. Stem structure, with the exception of some minor differences, was the same for all the species. Most variation belonged to leaves and the structure of their midrib. It is therefore, easy to distinguish species, on the basis of these structural characteristics. The coloured photographs for each species and an indentification key based on the anatomical characteristics is presented.

Cousinia subpectinata is described and illustrated as a new species from Iran. This species is compared with its closest relative” C. rechingerorum”. Also description of section Plathyacanthae is completed with morphological characters of this species.

Sorbus tiliaefolia is described as a new species from N. Iran. It is well characterized by the following characters. Leaves obliquely cordate, not lobed, leathery, pubescent in lower surface and as long as broad. Branches and corymbs are permanently pilose, fruits elliptic, retuse at the apex with deciduous sepals. The new species is a relative of Sorbus torminalis.

Acantholimon hormozganense is described as a new species from S. Iran. It is related to A. aspadanum Bunge, a species distributed in Central part of Iran. A. zaeifii is another new species again from S. of Iran. This species seems to be most closely related to A. eschkerense Boiss. distributed at the western part of the distribution of the new species.

Scorzonera ovata is reported for the first time from Iran, it has been collected from NE. of Iran, and Scorzonera longipapposa is reproted as an interesting species from Iran too, but it has been collected from South of Iran.

Gontscharovia popovii is recorded for the flora of Iran. It is the first report of the presence of the monotypic genus, Gontscharovia in Iran. It is separated from its close ally Satureja by the15-nerved calyx (not 10-13), the glabrous throat of the corolla and the beaked nutlets.

Ophioglossum lusitanicum L. (Pteridophyta) is recorded from Iran. Based on morphological, anatomical, sporological and ecological investigations, it is possible to distinguish this species from the well-known one in northern Iran, O. vulgatum L. Its discovery in a submountain area of Langerud, Gilan province, represents an extension of its phytogeographical range in eastern Eurasia. Geographical distribution and characteristic details of the species as well as a concrete comparison with O. vulgatum is presented.

Bromus arvensis is reported for the first time from Iran. It has been collected from NW. Iran, Azarbaajan area. This species is compared with its relative B. brachytachys.

Trigonella grandiflora is recorded for the first time from Iran. It has recently been collected in Khorasan province.

Psychrogeton cabulicus which has been collected from Khorasan province is reported as new species to Iran. This species is compared with closely related species, Psychrogeton andryaloides.

Cyperus michelianus as a new record and Cyperus pygmaeus as a noteworthy species are reported from the Cyperaceae flora of Iran. Exact localities based on the herbarium specimens are given. Main characteristics of each species and their geographical distribution are presented.

Two new records of the genus Euphorbia is reported for the Flora Iranica area and flora of Iran. These species are E. rosularis and E. franchetii from north of Khorassan province. Also E. turczaninowii, E. helioscopia L., E. cheirolepis, E. osyridea and Chrozophora gracilis are interesting taxa and are reported as new records for the flora of Khorassan.

Lactuca tatarica is a very beautiful species which is recorded for the first time from East of Iran. The species is compared with its close relative L. wilhelmsiana.

Qeshm island with an area of 1445 km² is the largest island in the Persian Gulf situated alongside the Hormozgan province coast, stretching from Bandar Abbas to the Khamir port. Of the vegetation in the island, one can mention the mangrove forest on the northern shores of the island in Laft and Tabl districts, halophyte plant associations and psamophyte-halophyte vegetation on the eroded terraces and the dry woodlands. In this paper 314 native species in the island are listed of which 74 species have, as yet, not been recorded in any other Qeshm documents. Classification based on biological types indicates that the therophytes and chamaephytes make up the largest percentage of the plants. From the chrological point they also exhibit the largest percentage of Saharo-Sindian elements.