THE IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
Year:2000 | Volume:8 | Issue:2|Papers Count:20

Sedum elburzense is described as a new species from Iran. The closest species to it seems to be S. nanum Boiss. a species was described from Kuh-e Dena in S. Iran. The differences of the two species are explained.

The leaf anatomy of representative species of Onosma L. from Iran has shown that the type of hairs is characteristic features in distingushing species and group of species within the genus. In internal structure of lamina two distinct groups are recognized within Onosma; sections Protonosma M. Pop. and Podonosma (Boiss.) Gruck with dorsiventral mesophyll and sect. Onosma mainly isobilateral. Several anatomical characters are associated withxeromorphy. Leaf anatomy supports the division of the genus Onosma L. into 3 sections.

Two new species of Rosaceae and Boraginaceae are described. Crataegus zagrica from SW. Iran and Heliotropium esfahanicum from central Iran. C. zagrica differs from all species of the genus Crataegus in Iran by having deciduous sepals in fruits and H. esfahanicum differs from H. samoliflorum by having hairs which located in the middle of the corolla lobes, subulate hooked intercalary lobes and hairy nutlets.

Biosystematic study was performed on several Solanum species native to Iran. Cytological analysis revealed presence of 2n = 24, 48 and 72 chromosome number in the species/populations studied. Karyotypic studies revealed the role played by polyploidy and structural changes of chromosomes during species diversification. The somatic chromosome number of S. persicum is reported for the first time. Numerical analysis of morphological characters and SDS-P AG E protein bands supported the classical taxonomic treatment of the genus, providing evidence for the species inter-relationships.

Nitraria retusa (Zygophyllaceae) has been collected from S. Iran at the margin of Persian Gulf, is reported as a new record for the flora of Iran.

Leaflets of 111 specimens including 82 bifurcate haired Astragalus species in 13 sections were taken from the herbarium specimens of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands (TARI). They were analyzed quantitatively for toxic aliphatic nitro compounds. The catabolites of nitro compounds, 3-nitro-1-propanol and 3-nitropropionic acid, are especially toxic to cattle and sheep. Nitro compounds are also important from chemotaxonomic point of view. These nitro-toxins were detected in 4 of 82 species.

Allium assadii Seisums is described as a new to science and Allium hollandicum R.M.Fritsch is reported for the first time from Iran. Distributional and taxonomical notes are given on A. jesdianum Boiss. & Buhse, A. kazerouni Pars a, A. altissimum Regel, and A. pseudozeravschanicum M.Pop. & Vved.ex B.Fedtsch.& M. Pop.

Londesia eriantha has sometimes been included in Bassia eriophora as a synonymy or as a variety of it. It has sometimes been known as a distinct species but under the genus Bassia. Both species occur in Iran and they are morphologically distinct and geographically separated. Londesia eriantha has no appendages on perianth segments and it distributes from C. Asia to the centre of Iran. Bassia eriophora bears rather long spines on perianth segments and it has a distribution from N. Africa eastwards through Palaestine and Arabia to S. of Iran. As appendages of Perianth in this group and also the whole Chenopodiaceae family are a generic diagnostic character, the two species are kept in different genera, i. e. Londesia and Bassia.

Pterachaenia stewartii is reported for the first time from Iran, it has been collected from the central part of Iran. Chromosome number of this species is reported for the first time.

Scrophularia kermanica and Jurinea mobayenii are new species from SE Iran, Kerman Province. J.  mobayenii, is compared with its close relatives, i. e. J. meda and J. sharifiana. Scrophularia kermanica is characterized from the other species by the following characters: leaves divided, capsule conical with uneven surface, flowers without stamina de, stamens long.  

Colchicum bakhtiaricum is described as a new species from Iran. The new species is compared with its closest relative C. varians and also C. schimperi.

Bergia aquatica Roxb. (Elatinaceae) and Ammannia verticillata (Ard.) Lam. (Lythraceae) are recorded as new plant species for the flora of Iran. These plants have been collected from West of Khorramabad in Luristan Province. Geographical distribution of the species is discussed. Bergia aquatica is compared with Bergia ammannioides Heyen. ex Roth. and Ammannia verticillata (Ard.) Lam. is compared with other species of Ammannia L. in Iran.

Cousinia dalahuensis and C. mobayenii are described as new species. These species closely related to the Cousinia sardashtensis and C. kirrindica. Also Cousinia qandilica is reported as a new record from Iran. Anatomical studies on the root, stem and leaf of C. mobayenii were carried out.

Arrhenatherum elatius var. elatius, A. elatius var. subhirsutum, Bromus mollis, Leptochloa uninervia, Paspalum paspaloides, Poa longifolia subsp. longifolia var. nigrescens, Trigonella brachycarpa and Trigonella gladiate are recorded as new and noteworthy plants from Iran. Exact localities based on herbarium specimens are given and geographical distribution of the plants are explained.

This research analyzed the different anatomical-physiological characteristics of two leguminous plants: the calcifuge plant Lupinus luteus was compared with the calcicole plant Vicia faba. The difference in structures, the dense glandular hair coverage, the presence of crystals and tanniferous cells in V. faba, together with physiological factors, are among the reasons why calcicole plants are more resistant to excesses of calcium.

Twelve populations of Bromus tomentellus collected from different parts of Iran were surveyed for karyotypic characteristics. The data were analysed using a factorial model of analysis of variance. After a confident result of differences between populations for the characters, complementary analysis was performed on the data. The populations were classified for the karyotypic characteristics and correlations between all combinations of the populations were estimated based on the total chromosome length and long arms of the chromosomes. Using principle components analysis the most variable karyotypic characters were identified. The principle components which contained the most amounts of existing variation of the data were also recognized. The two main components were used to produce a scatter plot of the populations. Cluster analysis was used to classify the populations based on the chromosomes total length and all of the measured characters. Regarding the karyotypic characteristics the least and the most similar populations were identified. Several statistics were estimated for assessment of asymmetry of the karyotypes. Regarding the results of the analysis of variance, the populations, chromosomes and their interactions were significantly different for most of the studied characters. The populations were highly correlated based on the total length of the chromosomes and LIS ratio but some weak correlations were also observed between some combinations of the populations. In principle components analysis, total length of the chromosomes and long arm length had the most influence on the first component, which in turn contained more than 90% of the existing variation in the data.Cluster analysis on both of the total length of chromosomes and all of the recorded attributes produced a similar grouping. The most distant populations based on their karyotypes, which may produce infertile progenies in breeding programs were also identified.

Dionysia mozaffaianii is described as new to science. Corydalis hausknechtii Liden, c. seisumsiana Liden and Fumaria officinalis L. subsp. officinal’s are reported for the first time from Iran. New records are presented for Corydalis hyrcana Wbo.

Based on 3000 herbarium specimens a taxonomic study of Astragalus subgenus Tagacantha has been done. In this research 10 new taxa including: A. glaucopsiformis, A. jamzadae, A. khatamsazae, A. membranostipulus, A. montosus, A. neo-mozaffarianii, A. passargadensis, A. peymanii, A. polystachys, A. sumarensis are described as new from Iran. Moreover due to the intensive collection from all Iranian territory, paniculary in western border of the country 6 new records including: A. karabaghensis Bunge, A. vedicus Takht., A. yueksekovae Matthews, A. gummifer Labill., A. turkmenorum (Boriss.) Boriss. and A. zoharyi Eig with the short notes are presented from Iran. Uncertain position of the few taxa is discussed.