The Iranian Journal of Botany
Volume:22 Issue: 2, Summer and Autumn 2017

The genus Paeonia L. is the single genus of Paeoniceae family and contains ca. 40 species worldwide, mostly Eurasian elements. The number of species in Iran and the name of them are variable in different literature. A taxonomic revision of the genus was done in Iran. Different available herbaria were visited and the plants compared with the description and partly available photographs of the herbarium specimens. Morphological characters were recorded based on herbarium specimens and living materials in the field. Paeonia wittmanniana usually is reported as a more widespread species in northern Iran seems not occur in Iran, but instead P. tomentosa is the most common species well distributed in northern Iran. Presence of two other species namely P. wendelboi and P. mascula formerly recorded from Iran is confirmed.

The genus Argemone is recorded by the species Argemone ochroleuca as a new genus for the flora of Iran. The specimens have been collected from Jiroft in Kerman Province, southeast of Iran. Description, localities, habitat, and geographic distribution are discussed. The images of plant in its natural habitat and of the herbarium specimen are presented.

This paper communicates the latest taxonomic status of the oriental Pyrus species, Rosaceae from the Northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. Extensive field surveys were conducted and many plant specimens were collected during 2008-2012. A total of 110 specimens were identified with the help of published literature, floras of the adjoining countries and the available herbarium specimens. GPS values, ecological notes, flowering & fruiting time and vernacular names of each taxon were recorded. Details of the 4 species viz. Pyrus pashia, P. calleryana, P. bretschneideri and P. pyrifolia have been given in this account. Of these, P. calleryana, P. bretschneideri and P. pyrifolia are new records for Pakistan.

This work is an updated phylogenetic study on the huge genus Astragalus using nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) data. Seven groups, each encompassing several sections, corresponding to the same number of clades appeared, were recognized in the phylogenetic tree. A short description for each group along with the name of appropriate sections as well as a diagnostic key regarding new reliable morphological characters for these groups is provided.

Nannorrhops baluchestanica is described as a new species from Iranshahr in Baluchestan province. The new species is distinguished from the other Iranian species N. ritchieana by the taller and thicker stems, green-silver leaves, symmetric base of petiole with floccose indumentum on dorsal face, brown bristles (fiber) at base of blade, rounded carples with smooth surface, loose inflorence, larg and light brown fruits and different flowering time. The two species are compared in details.

The present study, reports Salvia candidissima Vahl ssp. candidissima (Lamiaceae) as a new record for the flora of Iran. Anatomical and morphological characteristics of the plant have been investigated. Mainly based on the indumentum, corolla color and leaf morphology, S. candidissima is divided into two taxa including subsp. candidissima (leaves discolorous, ovate to broadly ovate; corolla bicolor) and subsp. occidentalis Hedge. (leaves concolorous, oblong to ovate; corolla homochromatic). Anatomical results show the general properties of the genus such as: quadrangular stem with thickened collenchyma at the corners and presence of sclerenchyma and collenchyma as mechanical tissue. Both glandular and eglandular trichomes on the stem and leaves are present. 2, 3-cellular eglandular and short capitate glands are the most common trichome types. An up-to-date distribution map of the species is provided. Moreover, the morphological description is amplified and diagnostic features are illustrated.

Three new specie including Pimpinella gilanica (Apiaceae), Potentilla humilis (Rosaceae) and Verbascum gilanicum (Scrophulariaceae) are described. In addition, three new records including Aethusa cynapium L. (Apiaceae), Hypochaeris glabra L. (Asteraceae) and Turritis laxa (Sibth. & Sm.) Hayek (Brassicaceae) are reported as new records for the flora of Iran.

The genus Acer L., consisting of 8 species and also some subspecies and varieties, is one of the most important forest trees distributed in all floristic regions of Iran. Among them, Acer monspessulanum L. by having five subspecies has the greatest range of distribution and diversity in the genus. During a study on herbarium specimens of the Research Center of Agricultural and Natural Resources of W. Azerbayjan Province for the preparation of the flora of Iran in Persian, subspecies oksalianum which was previously reported from Turkey, was identified and is reported for the first time for the flora of Iran. A new identification key for subspecies is presented here. An illustration of the new subspecies is provided.

Micromorphological features regarding lower surface of leaf epidermis and seed surface in eight Crataegus taxa representing the series Pentagynae and series Crataegus subseries Erianthae were studied by scanning electron microscopy. All data were analyzed using Anova and PCA statistical methods. Qualitative traits of lower surface of leaf epidermis include relief of cuticle membrane, striations and kinds of crystalloid waxes allow distinct delimitation at infrageneric, inter- and infraspecific levels, whereas the quantitative characteristics are less informative. The seed traits compared to the leaf features provide less reliable characters in the taxonomy of the genus.

In this research, Iranian species of 20 sections of the genus Silene L. have been anatomically studied for the first time. Some of the most important anatomical characters of leaf in this genus are listed here: general shape of leaves in transverse section, type of stomata cells, form of trichome, type of mesophyll (dorsiventral or isobilateral), presence or absence and type of collenchyma, thickness of sclerenchyma, existence or lack of water-storage, shape of vascular bundles, number of parenchyma layers in midrib, form and number of spongy and palisade parenchyma, presence or absence of parenchyma bundle sheath, number of vascular bundles in midrib. Based on our results we are able to identify and classify sections of this genus (tables 2, 3). In addition, we selected the most important characters related to midrib and lamina. All of these results confirm anatomical characters have taxonomic value for separating sections in the genus Silene.

Mitotic chromosomes of 13 species from four sections (Cracca, Ervillia, Ervum and Variegata) of the genus Vicia subgenus Vicilla were studied. Chromosome numbers of two species: V. armena, (2n=10) and V. multijuga (2n=10) are reported for the first time. 2n=14 for V. ciceroidea is a new count for this species, the previous report was 2n=28. Karyological data are presented for all the studied species. The chromosomes of all species were mainly metacentric to submetacentric. Based on Stebbines karyotype classification, the studied Vicia species were placed in three classes: 2A, 3A and 1B. V. monantha had the most symmetrical karyotype and could be considered more primitive than other studied species. Five species namely V. armena, V. aucheri, V. akhmaganica, V. persica and V. variegata showed 2n= 10 chromosomes and also had similar karyotype characters.

Results of research on taxonomical composition of Andijan, Eskiyer and Karkidon reservoirs algal flora, situated in the territory of Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan are presented. Detailed data are given regarding polymorph taxa, composing a base of algal flora. Species amount of polymorph classes and families were analyzed comparatively.