Rostaniha
Year:2007 | Volume:8 | Issue:2 (29)|Papers Count:11

Cousinia papillosa (Asteraceae) from eastern Iran is described and illustrated as a new species. Differences between the new species and its closest relative, C. meshhedensis, are discussed. A map showing the distribution of the two species is given. The scanning electron micrography of the pollen grains shows obvious differences between the two species especially in the sculpturing of exine. The meiotic chromosome count is also reported (n=13).

Original meiotic or mitotic chromosome counts are presented for 17 species in 12 families of angiosperms from Iran. Chromosome counts for Amberboa nana, n=16 (Asteraceae) and Camelina rumelica subsp. transcapica, n=13 (Brassicaceae) are repoted for the first time. Chromosome numbers for six species including:Rhagadiolus stellatus (n=5), Campanula raponcoloides (n=34), Campanula trachelium (n=10), Helianthemum salicifolium (n=10), Sorghum halepense (n=20), Consolida orientalis (n=8) are new reports for the flora of Iran. Also, the tetraploid level of n=12 for Linaria simplex is reported here for the first time.

During the study on newly collected and herbarium specimens belonging to the genus Euphorbia, three species, namely, E. gorenfloti, E. cheirolepioides and E. splendida were found to be synonymous with E. chamaepeplus, E. grossheimii and E. decipiens, respectively. Euphorbia sahendi as an interesting and rare species has been recognized after long time again among my material and Euphorbia deltobracteata is reported as a new record for the flora of Iran. Morphological characteristics, distribution, phytochoria and habitat of each species are reported. All these species are also illustrated.

In order to study of the form-genus Cytospora, around 400 specimens were collected from all over the Iran during 2003-2005. In this paper, the first part of the obtained results, including seven form-species are presented. Cytospora atrocirrhata, C. carbonacea, C. gutnerae, C. nivea and C. rosarum are reported as new members for mycoflora of Iran. Also, Vitis vinifera for C. leucostoma and Celtis australis and Populus alba for C. translucens are reported as new hosts (matrix nova) in the world.

Plant cuticles are covered by epicuticular waxes with considerable ultrastructural and chemical diversity and have great systematic significance.Pinus elderica is a rare pine found naturally only in desert environment southeast of Tbilisi (Georgia). This tree have been probably introduced to Iran about 800 years ago and gradually altered in both shape and size in Nashtifan-Khaf, and changed into two forms of conical and ball-shaped with smaller stature, which are known as these names. This study was conducted on wax and cuticle micromorphological features of aforesaid pines needles and stems. SEM results showed that, stem and epistomatal chambers surface was covered with tubular wax crystalloids in all three pines. The abaxial surface of needles, covered by amorphous or layers wax structures, was different in ball-shaped pine with others. But the obvious difference was related to adaxial surface of ball-shaped pine which seems to be more developed structure than the others. In this surface, tubular crystalloids are seen on amorphous masses of wax, whereas, Mondell pine has an amorphous or layer structures, and conical-shaped pine also has interconnected granules. The results of this study indicate some developmental trends of wax structure from Mondell pine to conical and ball-shaped pines.

Diatoms samples in Zayandeh Rood Dam Lake were taken in four stations from surface, 0.5 and 3 m depths of water in three replicate by Nansen sampler.Additional samples were taken from the surface with plankton net. Diatoms samples fixed with 4% formaldehyde and were concentrated and identified using microscope at 400 x. Salinity, NO3, PO4 and SO4 were measured using standard methods (APHA). In the present study, 53 species and 23 genera were identified. Nitzschia was dominant genera with 12 species and Cyclotella meneghiniana Kutz. Was dominant species in all stations and seasons? Temperature, pH, EC and DO were measured at site. The study revealed that, the Zayandeh Rood Dam Lake is an oligomesotrophic water body.

Due to the importance of the Arasbaran forest (E. Azarbaijan, N.W. Iran) as a biosphere preserve and having a rich flora and fauna, macrofungi flora of Arasbaran region, were studied from 2003. This is the first in a series of publications on floristic studies of macrofungi of Arasbaran forests. In this paper, species of the genus Cortinarius, subgenus Myxacium are studied.The genus Cortinarius Fr. is largest genus of gilled basidiomycete fungi.There are about 2000 species epithets for this genus in the world. The following characters delimit Cortinarius taxa: (i) a rusty brown to ochraceous spore print, (ii) spores lacking a germ pore and (iii) a cortinate veil.Cortinarius spp. form ectomycorrhizal associations with plants and also some species have been considered as poisonous mushrooms.Four species viz. C. arvinaceus, C. causticus, C. erumpens and C. pluviorum are reported for the first time for Iranian fungus flora. All species are re-described and illustrated with photographs and drawings:1. Cortinarius arvinaceus Fr. (Fig. 1) Specimen examined: E. Azarbaijan, Arasbaran, Kalaleh Sofla, on soil, 7.11.2006, Asef & Torabi (IRAN 5077 F).2. C. causticus Fr. (Fig. 2) Specimen examined: E. Azarbaijan, Arasbaran, Ermani Olan, on soil, 21.10.2004, Asef (IRAN 3921 F).3. C. erumpens Rob. Henry (Fig. 3) Specimen examined: E. Azarbaijan, Arasbaran, Kalaleh Sofla, on soil, 7.11.2006, Asef & Torabi (IRAN 5079 F).4. C. pluviorum (Jul. Schäff.) M.M. Moser (Fig. 4) Specimen examined: E. Azarbaijan, Arasbaran,  Khoineroud, on soil, 13.10.2004, Asef (IRAN 3778 F).

In this research foliar anatomy of seven species of Avena are studied under the light microscope and the scanning electron microscope (SEM). This study includes seven species, namely, A. barbata, A. clauda, A. eriantha, A. fatua, A. ludoviciana, A. sativa and A. wiestii. Different anatomical characters sush as number of bulliform cells, mesophyll thickness, midrib, number of vascular bundles from midrib to margin and some other characters are efficient in identification of species. Anatomical results are applied in separation of species from each other.The identification key based on anatomical characters is also presented. It is concluded that, the identification key based on morphological characters supports the relation between species based on anatomy.