The Iranian Journal of Botany
Volume:21 Issue: 1, Winter and Spring 2015

Piptatherum denaense is described as a new species from south west of Iran، Dena Mountain. It is close to P. laterale but differs from it by having glabrous lemma in lower half and toward the apex، narrower vegetative shoots and unbearded anthers. Piptatherum holciforme subsp. holciforme var. glabrum is not accepted as a distinct variety. Piptatherum sphacelatum formerly known as a synonym of P. molinioides is established as a separate species due to having distinct morphological characters as well as molecular differences based on literature. Thus، the number of taxa in the genus Piptatherum changes to 9 species، 2 subspecies and 4 varieties in Iran. An identification key to Piptatherum taxa occuring in Iran is provided. The distribution map of P. denaense with P. laterale subsp. laterale and the illustration of the new species are included.

Primula fedtschenkoi Regel that was reported from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in Flora Iranica is recorded from Khorassan Province in NE of Iran for the first time. It is compared with its nearest species based on morphological characters. The distribution map of the new record is presented.

Nepeta wuana H. J. Dong, C. L. Xiang & Z. Jamzad, (Lamiaceae), a new species found in Shanxi Province, China, is described and illustrated. The closest relative of the new species is the Chinese endemic N. sungpanensis C.Y. Wu but it clearly differs from it in the prolonged middle lobe of the lower corolla lip, as well as the much larger leaves, and sharper calyx lobes. Microfeatures of leaf epidermis, pollen grains, and nutlets of the new species are also explained.

Oxytropis guilanica Maassoumi & Moradi is described as a new species from Talesh (N Iran, Guilan Province). The new species is probably most closely related to O. pilosa (L.) DC. Androsace elongata L. is a new record for Iran that is also collected from this area. These species are compared with their relatives. Distribution map as well as illustrations of these novelties are represented. An identification key for new record is prepared.

Two new species, Lactuca birjandica and L. gilanica (Asteraceae) are described. In addition, a new record, Cichorium glandulosum Boiss. & Huet. is reported for Iran. Furthermore an interesting collection of Lactuca muralis L. from Gilan Forest in Iran is discussed for the first time. Taxonomic characters and illustrations are given for all species.

Sparganium L.(Typhaceae) includes five taxa in the aquatic flora of Iran. Sparganium emersum and S. natans are reported here for the first time in Iran and Flora Iranica area. These species were collected in two high mountain wetlands in Ardabil province. A detailed determination key for five Iranian Sparganium taxa is given.

Campanula kurdistanica is described as a new species. It has been collected from Kurdistan province on north to north-west slopes of Shahoo Mountain on shady cliffs and rocks crevices. Campanula kurdistanica differs from its relative species in Iran mainly by deeply divided lobes of corolla about ¾ of its length. It is illustrated and differences from its relatives are discussed.

Potamogeton friesii Rupr.is reported for the first time from the Flora Iranica area. This species was collected from Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, Gilan, Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces. It is distinguished from its closest relatives, Potamogeton pusillus and P. berchtoldii, by having 5-7-veind, wide leaf and stipules which split at the top and being free from each other at upper part and also this species is reddish or brownish in fresh status. A geographical distribution map, anatomical features and an illustration of the species are given.

Myosotis diminuta Grau (Boraginaceae) is recorded for the first time for the flora of Iran. It was rediscovered in 2013 in Zanjan Province, NW of Iran, in a wetland habitat far from its previously known habitat after not being documented for more than 100 years. A detailed taxonomic description and photographs are provided to facilitate its identification in the field. Also diagnostic characters to define Myosotis diminuta from itsclose relatives are provided.

In this study we mapped the Rosaceae species richness with the point-to-grid richness analysis tool DIVA-GIS, using a 10×10 kilometer grid cell and the circular neighborhood option with the 50 km radius, to identify potential areas for conservation of Rosaceae. This analysis is accomplished by 5762 georeferenced observations. The main potential areas for conservation of this family in Iran belong to the Irano-Turanian Region with its two important parts including central Alborz and Zagros Mountains respectively. These areas cover the centre of endemism of the family in Iran. The Rosaceae has 91 rare and 70 endemic species. Mazandaran with the highest number of rare species (23) is one of the most important areas for conservation (in central Alborz).

Chromosome numbers of two native species from Iran were determined. The samples were collected from natural habitats. Astrodaucus orientalis (2n=20) of Apiaceae family and Althaea officinalis (2n=42) of Malvaceae family were investigated in this research. Ideograms were depicted for each species. Althaea officinalis had metacentric chromosomes. In Astrodaucus orientalis the karyotype formulas are 8m+ 2sm. These results are the first report for the Iranian flora.

Chromosome numbers are reported for Ranunculus dolosus (Ranunculaceae), 2n=32 and Silene conoidea (Caryophyllaceae), 2n=24. These species were collected from NW Iran in W Azarbaijan Province. Idiograms were prepared for both species. Symmetrical karyotypes are placed in class 1B in Ranunculus dolosus and class 1A in Silene conoidea. Karyotype formula are 8m+6sm+2st in Ranunculus dolosus and 12m in Silene conoidea.

Morphological and ecological variations and inter-specific relationships of a red algal genus, Hypnea were investigated in 15 populations belong to 5 species from Oman Sea coasts. In this study, cluster analyses, principal component analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis were done. Statistical analyses indicated that characters such as special branches or branchlets, position of tetrasporange and algae habit are the most important diagnostic characters in intera-genus variation. In general two major clusters were formed. The first major clustercomprised H. boergesenii. Second major clustercontains two subclusters. The first subcluster comprised of H. charoides, H. valentiae and H. musciformis. The second subcluster comprised of H. pannosa. Results showed that variation in the cluster one was explained by average of annual salinity and morphological variation and in cluster two was related to average of annual PH, water temperature and impurities.

A new morphospecies, Anabaena variabilis var. kashinesis (Bharadwaja) Fritsch (Nostocaaceae, Cyanophyta) is reported for algal flora of Iran. The specimens were collected at 2013 from paddy fields of Golestan province. After isolation and uniculture in both liquid and solid media the variety was identified using optical, fluorescence and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques based on Morphological characteristics and behavioral analysis under different temperature and carbon dioxide concentration at limited irradiance (2μE m-2 s-1) which is the first combined method of phytoplankton studies in Iran. Regarding biological versatility of cyanophyta, the study emphasized on most morphological characteristics of the variety and a new description of Anabaena variabilis var. kashinesis (Bharadwaja) Fritsch has been presented in this paper.

This paper presents a result of studies on lichens in Esfahan province during the period of early June – late September in 2011. Psora himalayana (C.Bab.) Timdalis reported as new for Iran. A short description and illustrations of anatomically important characters are presented.