The Iranian Journal of Botany
Volume:29 Issue: 1, Spring and Summer 2023

Among the herbarium specimens collected in Azerbaijan province, two specimens of an Erodium species seemed to be undescribed. The specimens were studied carefully and compared with other Iranian species and other neighboring countries, especially the perennials and it was discovered that the specimens in spite of a similar habit to Erodium dimorphum, have certain differences with it. The two new specimens are male and female of the same species. However, we came to the conclusion that the specimens are a new species and were named in honor of its collector M. A. Ghahremani. The new species and E. dimorphum have disjunct distribution in Semnan and Azerbaijan provinces respectively. The new species bears mixed simple and glandular hairs, stems ca. 30 cm high, leaves 15 cm long and 3 cm broad, leaflets lanceolate and 2-3 cm long. While E. dimorphum bears only simple hairs, no stem or stems up to 20 cm, leaves up to 12 cm long and 1 cm broad, and leaflets orbicular-ovate and up to 1 cm long.

Diaphanoptera gharehbilensis is described as a new species from North-Khorasan Province, NE of Iran. It is closely related to D. stenocalycina from NE Iran, D. transhyrcana from Turkmenistan, and D. lindbergii from Afghanistan. The new species is distinguished from the related species by having dense puberulent and 13-14 mm length calyx, bracteoles leaf-like, frequently longer than pedicels, and spathulate lamina. An illustration of the new species, images of its natural habitat, and some information about the habitat are provided. Furthermore, an identification key to the species is presented, and the conservation status of D. gharehbilensis is assessed.

Onosma shehbazii (Onosma subsect. Asterotricha) is described as a new species. It is endemic to the Hawraman Mountains, in the west of Iran. Morphologically, it is similar to O. qandilica and O. bisotunensis but differs from them in the shape of sterile shoots and cauline leaves, lower bracts size, corolla color, fruiting calyx size, the position of calyx lobes; length of the free part of filaments and hairy nectary annulus. Additionally, the distribution map, an image of the holotype specimen, diagnostic characters, detailed photos, and an identification key are presented here.

Botanical exploration in 2022 in the province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, resulted in the collection of Dionysia bachtiarica, a narrow endemic species first collected in 1902 and described in 1905. This species has not been seen since 1903. Some morphological features were incompletely recorded, absent, or untrustworthy in earlier descriptions, due to limited herbarium material. In this study, new morphological data are provided based on analysis of live flowering and fruiting material, illustrated with photographs of the plant and its habitat, as well as line drawings. A full description of the species, its ecology, and phenology, as well as a key to all purple-flowered species in the Zagros Mountains, are provided. The possible relations of this enigmatic species are discussed. Due to its extremely limited known area of occurrence and a small number of individuals, it is considered to be Critically Endangered.

Cupressus sempervirens L. is the only native Cupressus in Iran. Basically, the placement of real Mediterranean Forests in the Euro-Siberian vegetation is not expected although its presence in Hyrcanian areas is valuable. In this study; floristic composition, life forms, and chorological spectrum in habitats were analyzed. A total of 700 species belonging to 386 genera from 87 families were recorded. Fabaceae (75), Asteraceae (72), Poaceae (71), and Lamiaceae (46), comprise the largest number of species. 81 species of trees and shrubs grow along with cypress in these areas. Among the recorded life forms, therophytes with 273 species, and hemicryptophytes with 224 species were dominant. More than 85% of the species have at least one Mediterranean or western Iran-Turanian chorotype, which shows a close relationship between cypress growing areas in Iran and the main Mediterranean areas. A total number of 59 species were endemic to Iran. Of these, 31 species (52%) are common with the Irano-Turanian region, 26 species (44%) with the Hyrcanian province, and 2 species (4%) with the Mediterranean region. The results were compared to other studies in the other areas where the cypress does not grow and the cypress grows but outside the Hyrcanian range (Firoozabad, Fars). Our goal is to do a complete floristic and vegetation study in common cypress habitats in Hyrcanian chorion that had imperfections of data. Although these habitats are located within the Hyrcanian chorion, results revealed the floristic composition is not similar to that of the typical Hyrcanian habitats.

This article presents a new checklist of Asparagus in the Southern Aral Sea region. The synopsis includes 6 species for the Southern Aral Sea region as a result of field collecting missions, studies, and examination of Tashkent (TASH), Moscow (MW), Madrid (MA), and Karakalpak SRI of natural sciences herbarium collections. Asparagus breslerianus A. inderiensis and A. turkestanicus are found in new localities in the Aral Sea region, of them A. turkestanicus is endemic to Central Asia. The distribution of species and species richness in the Southern Aral Sea region were calculated for phytogeographical areas. Geographic coordinates were determined based on Google Earth, ArcGIS 10.6.1 program. The World Geodetic System 1984 projection was used to create the maps. The geographical distribution of Asparagus for the Southern Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan (Karakalpakstan) was mapped.

The genus Blumea is one of the largest genera in the tribe Inuleae. In this study, stem and leaf anatomical features of the genus Blumea in the section Paniculatae DC. of Randeria are investigated. Blumea laciniata DC., B. barbata DC., B. sessiliflora Decne., B. membranacea DC., B. axillaris DC., B. virens Wall. ex DC., B. lacera (Burm.f.) DC., and B. fistulosa Kurz. are the eight species present in the Peninsular Indian region. The samples collected from different areas of Peninsular India were studied anatomically using the conventional method. The results revealed that generally the species share similar anatomical characteristics but there are some remarkable differences. With respect to the results, trichome morphology appears to be of taxonomic value. The species can be separated on the basis of trichome types, the presence of secretory canals, and the layer of palisade tissue. An identification key to the taxa is provided based on the anatomical features of the leaf and stem.

Euphorbia gypsicola (Euphorbiacea, sect. Pithyusa (is one of the six endemic gypsophyte species in the west of Semnan Province, Iran, and E. bungei (sect. Sclerocyathium) is native to the gravelly calcareous or gypseous slopes in southwest Asia. In this study, the adaptability of these two species and the effect of ecological factors on their morphological, anatomical, and micro-morphological characters in the gypseous habitats of West Semnan were investigated using CCA and RDA analytical methods, Canoco 4.5 software. The micromorphological investigations using SEM showed the surface of the leaf and stem of E. gypsicola has long hairs with an average length of 224.5 μm, and the surface of the leaf and stem of E. bungei is smooth and hairless. The size of stomatal guard cells in E. gypsicola leaves is 17.5 µm long and 10 µm wide on average, compared to E. bungei, with stomata 9 µm long and 3 µm wide, the stomata of E. gypsicola species are bigger and deeper. The presence of small and hairy leaves in E. gypsicola fleshy leaves in E. bungei (13.4 mm in average length and an average 3.8 mm width), as well as gypsum crystals in the leaves of E. gypsicola and in stems of E. bungei, are the factors, that help these two species to adapt to the hot desert climate condition of Semnan. Results indicated that the altitude had the highest effect on the abundance of E. gypsicola. The increase of Na and Mg content in the soil reduced the abundance of both species.

This study represents chromosomal data for eight species of four genera from Apiaceae. The karyotype analysis in this research was performed using the squash technique on mitotic metaphase chromosomes. Out of the eight species studied, five are new reports (Dorema aucheri, Ducrosia assadii, Ferula oopoda, F. pseudalliacea, and F. sphenobasis), while three counts confirm (Dorema ammoniacum, Ducrosia anethifolia, and Smyrnium cordifolium) the findings of the previous studies. All species have a basic chromosome number of x=11. Dorema ammoniacum and D. aucheri have only one submetacentric chromosome while in Ferula pseudalliacea, about half of the chromosomes were submetacentric. In Ducrosia anethifolia, D. assadii, Ferula oopoda, F. sphenobasis, and Smyrnium cordifolium all chromosomes are metacentric.

This study employed the survey method for the taxonomic investigation of crustose lichens in the Khorasan-Razavi province between 2018 and 2019. The lichen samples were examined for morphological, anatomical, and ecological features for identification. According to the results, the Rinodina castanomela Nyl. was identified as a new report for the lichen flora of Iran. Furthermore, we identified Lecanographa lyncea (Sm) Egea & Torrente that was not previously reported from the Khorasan-Razavi province.

There are little data on the presence of Ulva intestinalis, as the only macroscopic alga of Urmia Lake. This study tries to illuminate some historical, taxonomical, and ecological aspects of this macro alga of Urmia Lake which has not been observed in the lake since the late 1990s. Ulva intestinalis is a macroscopic alga that was previously recorded from Urmia Lake but disappeared from the lake flora in the late 1990s. This study is based on multiple visits to Urmia Lake since 1998 and a literature review. During many visits to Urmia Lake, we did not observe any samples of Ulva intestinalis. The reason remains unclear until now; natural or anthropogenic. However, it is a green alga belonging to the genus Ulva in Ulvaceae, with high carotene contents. Considering the human impacts on ecosystems and the probable extinction of some species, this study reviews the history of the occurrence of Ulva intestinalis in Urmia Lake and the possibility of its extinction. We believe that the documentation of the algal flora in an herbarium is very important in the interpretation of the presence, population decrease, or extinction of species. Therefore, we suggest the foundation of algal herbaria in institutions close to aquatic habitats, to keep records and monitor the algal and other aquatic flora.