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Tanacetum kurdistanicum and T. urmiense (Anthemideae, Asteraceae), from Abidar Mountain, and Dalanpar Mountain, respectively, are hereby described as new to science and illustrated. Their morphology and ecology are discussed in detail and a distribution map is provided.

A new species, Cephalaria kurdistanica, from Chehel-Cheshmeh mountain, west of Iran, is here described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically related to C. microcephala Boiss., C. procera Fisch. & Avé-Lall., and C. kotschyi Boiss. & Hohen., but it differs in chiefly stem size, size and shape of capitula, the number of phyllaries, shape of upper part of phyllaries, calyx shape and indumentum, and size of bristles of receptacle. As well as detailed description, distribution map, conservation status and ecology of the new species are given.

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).

Heracleum kurdistanicum (Apiaceae; Tordylieae), a new subalpine species from Dalanpar Mountain, NW Iran, is described and illustrated. Heracleum kurdistanicum has no morphologically close relatives, but is compared with two most similar species: H. argaeum and H. schelkovnikovii. They differ in habit, leaves, fruits, and number and size of rays.

WOS: 000362577700004, Fritillaria avromanica is described as a new species from Iran based on specimens collected from Hawraman. Taxonomic descriptions, illustrations, geographical distribution, habitat, ecology, and conservation status of the new species and the closely related F. assyriaca and F. melananthera are provided. In addition F. melananthera is given the rank of species, rather than being subspecies of F. assyriaca. The differences between F. melananthera and F. assyriaca are discussed with pollen and chromosomal characteristics.

In this paper, a synopsis of the genus Pyrus L. in Iran is presented. A complete morphological identification key consisting of previously introduced species plus new species and newly recorded taxa is provided as well as a morphological description of each taxon. Moreover, the distribution of each species is mapped based on field observations, collected material and previously published records. Notes on chorology, phenology, taxonomical relationships, habitat, economical uses and a selection of examined specimens is provided. Most species are illustrated in fruit. Four newly recorded taxa, viz. P. spinosa, P. zangezura, P. × takhtadzhianii and P. × medvedevii are reported for the first time from Iran.

Four species of Allium from northwest Iran are described as new: Allium alamutense Razyfard, Zarre & R.M. Fritsch, A. kurdistanicum Maroofi & R.M. Fritsch, A. subakaka Razyfard & Zarre, and A. mahneshanense Razyfard, Zarre & R.M. Fritsch. A detailed description for each species, a table including the diagnostic morphological characters useful in separating these species from their relatives, images of type material and illustrations of flower parts as well as distribution maps are provided.

Vicia kurdicaJalilian sp. nova, is described from Iran and presented in line drawing. It is compared with the morphologically close related V. lathyroides L., V. cuspidataBoiss. and V. sativa L (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

To assess the potential for arsenic (As) hyperaccumulation of native plant species, plant and soil samples were collected from the Zarshuran area (north-western Iran), which has a history of As pollution from mining. Total and water-soluble As in the soil ranged from 11.2 to 6525 and from 0.004 to 13.08 mg kg(-1), respectively. Among 89 plant species, the highest foliar As concentrations were found in Isatis capadocica (up to 3000 mg kg(-1)) and Hesperis persica (up to 1500 mg kg(-1)). Over a broad range of soil As concentrations, these species maintained more than 10-fold increased foliar As concentrations and soil to leaf As transfer coefficients in comparison with all the other species sampled at the same sites. Based on these characteristics, in combination with their ability to accumulate As to concentrations exceeding 1000 mg kg(-1) on a dry weight basis in their foliage, both species should be classified as As hyperaccumulators. I. capadocica and H. persica, both Brassicacaeae, are the first terrestrial angiosperms shown to possess the As hyperaccumulation trait. Both species are fairly robust with relatively high biomass productivity and, therefore, potentially useful in on site phytoremediation, particularly I. capadocica, because of its higher robustness and As accumulation capacity.

The Eurasian genus Tragopogon Linnaeus (1753: 789) comprises approximately 150 species (Mavrodiev et al. 2012, Bell et al. 2012). Twenty six species of Tragopogon were treated in Flora Iranica (Rechinger 1977) as occurring in Iran, of which 10 species were considered endemic to Iran. The same number of species was retained in the new Flora of Iran (Safavi et al. 2013).

Trifolium kurdistanicum, a new species of Trifolium sect. Trifolium from Kurdistan Province, west of Iran is described. It grows at high altitude on subalpine regions with steep slopes and shallow soil. The new species is morphologically close to T. longidentatum and can be considered as a member of the subsect. Ochroleuca. Trifolium kurdistanicum is characterized by large, multiple and branched stems, less than half of the stipule length adnate to the petiole, inflorescences without bracts, calyx with 3-nerved lower and 1-nerved upper teeth and all slightly longer than the tube, calyx nearly half the length of corolla, flowers violet or rarely white and seeds reniform.

A new species of Pentanema, P. kurdistanicum is described and illustrated from Kurdistan, west of Iran. The new species was found scattered among rocks in the subalpine zone of S Marivan, in a low number of individuals. The new species is compared with the nearest allies, P. flexuosum and P. prasinurum. The phytochoria, morphological characters, ecology, conservation status, distribution map and phenology of the new species are presented.

For delimitation of species and systematic resolution, pericarp indumentum in drupes of 17 species and two hybrids of the genus Amygdalus L., representing two subgenera and two sections distributed in Iran, were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to assess whether in this genus, pericarp micromorphological characters are of taxonomic value. The pericarp indumentum type is velutinous with different density of trichomes. Glabrous pericarp was observed solely in A. reticulata Runemark ex Khatamsaz. All trichomes are simple. Two basic types of trichomes were distinguished on the surface of the pericarp: tubular and flattened. Among these, tubular trichomes are more frequent than other trichomes in most species except for A. kotschyi Boiss. et Hohen., A. eburnea Spach, A. spinosissima Bge. subsp. spinosissima and A. lycioides Spach var. lycioides. Density of trichomes was variable among the studied taxa. In the first subgenus (subgen. Amygdalus) with two sections, there was enough difference between sections. While density of trichomes in sect. Spartioides Spach was very low, most of species in the another section, sect. Amygdalus showed dense pericarp indumentum. Regarding density, the second subgenus, subgen. Dodecandra (Spach) Browicz showed dense indumentum. Two hybrids studied, A.´keredjensis Browicz and A.´kamiaranensis Khatamsaz et Assadi showed different pericarp indumenta, dense and sparse respectively. In conclusion, micromorphological investigation of pericarp indumentum in drupes is a useful tool for distinguishing taxa in some cases, especially those of the two sections in the first subgenus in Amygdalus.

Isatis takhtajanii Avestisian is reported as a new record from western Iran. It is close to I. tinctoria L.; a list of diagnostic differences is provided. A more complete description of I. takhtajanii and a distribution map are given. Isatis koeiei Rech.f. is reduced to a synonym of I. raphanifolia Boiss. Iranian records of I. spectabilis Davis and I. tinctoria subsp. tomentella (Boiss.) Davis are considered to be misidentifications of I. kotschyana Boiss. & Hohen.