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Gelasia attariana is described as a new species from northwest of Iran, near the border to Azerbaijan. The new species is morphologically similar to G. cinerea and G. wendelboi, mainly because of sharing caulescent perennial life form, entire lanceolate leaves with 3–7 parallel veins, tomentose indumentum of phyllaries and glabrous achenes without carpopodium, but differs in plant height, indumentum type of stems and leaves, length/width ratio of leaves, leaves color, apex of leaves and length of achenes and pappus. Morphological comparisons and taxonomic relationships of G. attariana with its closely related taxa are discussed. Consistent with morphological data, molecular evidences based on nrDNA ITS sequences confirmed that the new species can be recognized as a distinct taxon from its close relatives. Description, images of living plants and distribution map of the new species are also provided.

Pollen characters of 48 species of Scorzonera s.l. distributed in Iran were investigated by using light and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains are isopolar, radially symmetric, generally 3-zonocolporate, rarely 2-colpororate or 4-colporate. The pollen grains are oblate-spheroidal in shape (P/E=0.89 to 0.99) with the polar axes 37.1–58.1 µm and the equatorial axes 38.8–60.6 µm. We adopted the four pollen types recognized by Blackmore based on the number and position of their lacunae. For the first time, some pollen grains of S. longipapposa and S. tortuosissima were shown to have 26 (24+2) lacunae. We compared pollen morphological characters with the findings of the most recent systematic treatment. Type A with 6 lacunae was observed in Takhtajaniantha pusilla and S. parviflora, type B with 18 lacunae in Gelasia, type C with 20 lacunae in Pseudopodospermum and type D with 24 lacunae in Ramaliella, S. renzii and the Podospermum clade (except S. laciniata) in Scorzonera. We also observed 15 or 18 lacunae in S. rupicola. The pollen in Scorzonera appears to evolve toward reduction of spines in S. parviflora, extension of spines in the Podospermum clade, enlargement of the space between ridges and increase in the number of lacunae (S. longipapposa and S. tortuosissima). 26 pollen characters of the examined species were analysed by UPGMA and PCA. Pollen size, spine size, distance between spines, number and arrangement of spines between two equatorail lacunae, exine thickness, spine length/P or E, dimensions of lacunae and polar area were shown to contribute significantly to understanding the morphology of Scorzonera.

Based on morphological and molecular evidence, two new species of Silene are recognized and described here, S. penduliflora F.Jafari, Keshavarzi & Doostm. sp. nov. and S. thyrsiantha F.Jafari, Mirtadz. & Keshavarzi sp. nov. The newly discovered species are distributed in the central and southeastern parts of Iran, growing in rocky habitats. Relationships among these species and their close relatives are demonstrated using nrDNA ITS and cpDNA rps16 phylogenies. Silene ghahremaninejadii, S. parrowiana, and S. shahrudensis form a clade with these new species. A key to S. penduliflora and S. thyrsiantha and their close relatives is provided.

Nepeta iraqo-iranica, a new species is described and illustrated from NE of Iraq, Sulaimaniya Province, and W of Iran, Kurdistan Province, NW of Bâne. A table of morphological comparison and detailed discussion with morphologically close species is given. The species is considered Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN criteria.