Biosystematic Study in Some Dracocephalum Species (Lamiaceae) Based on Morphology and Anatomy in Iran

The genus Dracocephalum L. (Lamiaceae) with about 60 to 70 species is a genus in the sub-tribe Nepetinae, tribe Mentheae of Lamiaceae family, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are mostly perennial herbs, and rarely annual. Flora Iranica reports 8 Dracocephalum species and the Flora of Iran reports 10 Dracocephalum species in Iran out of which, 4 species are endemic. We collected 7 Dracocephalum species and studied species delimitation and species relationship by morphometric and anatomic results. The species were efficiently delimited by morphological and anatomical characters. Morphological and anatomical characters revealed closer affinity between D. moldavica and D. subcapitatum and D. thymiflorum were placed with distance from these species.

A taxonomic revision of Rhamnus L. and Atadinus Raf. (Rhamnaceae) in Iran

This study aims to revise the taxonomic status of Rhamnus L. and Atadinus Raf. (Rhamnaceae) for the Flora of Iran. Nine species, including 15 taxa are recognized, described and compared with their closely related taxa. These include one new species, R. rahiminejadii Alijanpoor & Assadi, one new subspecies, R. pallasii subsp. mazandaranica Alijanpoor & Assadi, and one hybrid species, R. ×mehreghanii Alijanpoor & Khodayari (R. persica Boiss. × R. kurdica Boiss. & Hohen.). In addition, a hybrid species i.e, ×R. spathulifolia Fisch. & C. A. Mey., is accepted as a distinct species, R. spathulifolia Fisch. & C. A. Mey. and R. cornifolia and R. cornifolia var. denudata, from sect. Rhamnustrum Rouy. are transfered to genus Atadinus Raf. as A. cornifolius (Boiss. & Hohen.) Alijanpoor and A. cornifolius var. denudatus (Bornm.) Alijanpoor.

A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Hedysarum L. (Fabaceae-Hedysareae) in Iran

Hedysarum is the second largest genus of the tribe Hedysareae (Fabaceae), in Iran. Considering the rising number of species in Iran, a taxonomic revision of the genus is provided, except for a Hedysarum wrightianum group. As a complementary treatment, a diagnostic key to the species and detailed morphological descriptions are supplied. Based on the reliable molecular phylogeny and morphological evidence in the current study, the taxonomy of some species of H. subsect. Crinifera was re-examined. H. criniferum var. melanotrichum with 1-2 segmented, large, elliptic-semi ovate pods, is raised to the species rank as H. melanotrichum. Also, a new variety of H. atropatanum, (var. glabrum) with pods without setae, is introduced from the type locality. Furthermore, some species were synonymized including H. longipedunculatum with H. fallacinum, H. persicum with H. papillosum, H. orumiehense with H. criniferum, H. bojnordense with H. kopetdaghi, H. elbursense with H. hyrcanum as well as H. kalatense and H. johartchii with H. balchanense. According to the present study, the flora of Iran consists of H. armenium, a representative of H. sect. Hedysarum, and 31 species from H. sect. Multicaulia.

Taxonomic review of the expanded Plocama (Rubiaceae, Putorieae) from flora of Iran, with a new species and a new combination

Plocama ehrendorferi is described as a new species from southeast of Iran that can be easily distinguished from the related species P. bruguieri and P. kandaharensis by its compact leaves on the stem and shorter internodes, the bright green color of the plant, shorter and narrower leaf segments and the length of corolla. This study provides new information on the taxonomic state and geographical distribution of Plocama species from the flora of Iran. It is concluded that P. macrantha has been reported wrongly from Iran such that the reports of P. kandaharensis and P. olivieri cannot be confirmed.

Two New Species and a New Record of Astragalus sect. Ammodendron (Fabaceae) from Northeastern Iran

Following study of specimens belonging to Astragalus L. sect. Ammodendron Bunge collected from northeastern Iran, two new species and a new record for Iran are described and reported. Astragalus ayatollahii Nasseh, Joharchi & F. Ghahrem. differs from A. biarjmandicus Podlech & Zarre and A. inchebroonensis Maassoumi in having longer racemes with more flowers, only white trichomes on the calyx, and one pair of leaflets in the lower leaves and two pairs in the upper leaves. Astragalus gonabadensis Nasseh, Joharchi & F. Ghahrem. differs from A. baharensis F. Ghahrem. and A. macrobotrys Bunge in characters of the calyx and legume trichomes. Descriptions, distribution maps, and comparative tables of morphological characteristics for these taxa are presented. In addition, the first record of A. excedens Popov & Kult. in the flora of Iran is reported.

Rediscovery of Crucianella parviflora (Rubiaceae), after more than 70 years of its original collection—a new record for the flora of Iran

After a gap of 71 years of its original collection in Iraq, Crucianella parviflora is rediscovered from Kurdistan, Iran. A detailed morphometric treatment of the species is provided here. Its taxonomic relationships with the other related species are discussed as well. Our analyses on the conservation status of C. parviflora based on IUCN criteria and categories ranked it as Vulnerable (VU).