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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.

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.

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.

Background: The safety of the use of medicinal plants is a general challenge among consumers. To improve the use, it is necessary to provide complete profiles of the natural medications for quality control and the therapeutic and toxicity effects. This study was conducted to evaluate the structural and functional toxicity of the methanolic extracts of Salvia rhytidea and Glycine max plants in mice. Methods: After determining the LD50, NMRI mice with mean weight of 25-30 g were treated intraperitoneally with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, and orally with 800 mg/kg of the extracts for 7 consecutive days. After the last treatment, the serum samples were prepared and used for the biochemical assays. The liver and left kidney were removed from the animals and fixed in 10% formalin for histopathological examinations. Results: The results indicated that the biochemical parameters of liver and kidneys were not significantly different among the experimental and control groups (P>0.05). Mild degenerative changes in the liver and kidneys were observed at the IP dose of 400 mg/kg and oral dose of 800 mg/kg of both extracts. Conclusion: The use of these plants’ extracts did not induce severe toxicity in the short-term; however, caution should be exercised with the long-term use.

Multivariate morphometric approach (using PCA mix and CDA) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat Markers (ISSR) were used to characterize the patterns of morphological and genetic relationships of Capparis spinosa group in Iran. The morphological data analyses revealed that this complex could be divided into three main groups. C. spinosa subsp. cartilaginea and C. spinosa subsp. spinosa var. mucronifolia were reliably delineated by morphological data, but C. spinosa subsp. spinosa var. parviflora, C. spinosa subsp. spinosa var. herbacea, C. spinosa subsp. spinosa var. canescens, C. spinosa subsp. spinosa var. aegyptia and their intermediate phenotypes were overlapped. The results of ISSR data were different from morphological analyses and var. parviflora exhibited a close genetic affinity to var. mucronifolia rather than the other varieties of sub. spinosa. The results of this study revealed that subsp. cartilaginea should be recognized at species level. In case of var. parviflora, we propose subspecies level for this variety. Further investigation is needed to reveal the taxonomic status of var. mucronifolia.

Traditional morphometric and multivariate analyses on relevant traits were carried out on populations identified as S. bachtiarica throughout the distribution range in Iran. This was complemented by molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear rDNA sequences (ITS). Based on these results the SE populations are described as a new species, Satureja kermanica sp. nov. The new taxon is illustrated and compared to its close relatives. The new species is distinguished from S. bachtiarica by several qualitative and quantitative characters: the length of internodes, the state of stem indumentum, the color of corolla, the shape and the length of calyx, the ratio of the length of lower to the length of upper calyx teeth, the ratio of calyx length to the lower teeth length, the length of stamens and the style. The new species is geographically isolated and restricted to the Irano-Turanian floristic region of Kerman Province. It preferably grows on the gravelly sediments of seasonal streams. Due to its restricted occurrence, the species is considered endangered (EN) according to IUCN criteria.

Two new species―Silene orientoalborzensis and S. circumcarmanica―are here described from Northeast and South Iran, respectively. They belong to Silene subg. Silene sect. Auriculatae which is the largest section of the genus in W-Asia. A specimen from center of Iran, which was identified erroneously as S. atocioides, is revised and identified as S. pendula which represents a new record for the Iranian flora. S. simsii is proposed as a nomen novum for Cucubalus multifidus.

espanolTeucrium elymaiticum Attar, Sotoodeh & Mirtadzadini, spec. nova es una nueva especie endemica encontrada en Iran occidental. Pertenece a la seccion Scordium. Basandose en la combinacion de algunos caracteres morfologicos, como indumento, bracteas, pedicelo, caliz, tamano de la corola, la forma y el tamano del fruto, la nueva especie esta proxima a T. scordium subsp. scordioides (Schreb.) Arcang.. Se destacan las diferencias entre ambas especies y se presentan las imagenes, mapas de la distribucion y la clave de identificacion actualizada para el genero. EnglishA new endemic species from western Iran, Teucrium elymaiticum Attar, Sotoodeh & Mirtadzadini, spec. nova is described. It belongs to section Scordium. Considering the combination of some characteristics like indumentum, bracts, pedicel, calyx, corolla size, and nutlet shape and size, the new species is related to T. scordium subsp. scordioides (Schreb.) Arcang.. The differences between these two species are highlighted. Images, distribution map and an updated identification key for the genus are presented.

Premise of this studySalvia is the most species-rich genus in Lamiaceae, encompassing approximately 1000 species distributed all over the world. We sought a new evolutionary perspective for Salvia by employing macroevolutionary analyses to address the tempo and mode of diversification. To study the association of floral traits with speciation and extinction, we modeled and explored the evolution of corolla length and the lever-mechanism pollination system across our Salvia phylogeny.MethodsWe reconstructed a multigene phylogeny for 366 species of Salvia in the broad sense including all major recognized lineages and numerous species from Iran, a region previously overlooked in studies of the genus. Our phylogenetic data in combination with divergence time estimates were used to examine the evolution of corolla length, woody vs. herbaceous habit, and presence vs. absence of a lever mechanism. We investigated the timing and dependence of Salvia diversification related to corolla length evolution through a disparity test and BAMM analysis. A HiSSE model was used to evaluate the dependency of diversification on the lever-mechanism pollination system in Salvia.Key ResultsBased on recent investigations and classifications, Salvia is monophyletic and comprises ∼1000 species. Our inclusion, for the first time, of a comprehensive sampling for Iranian species of Salvia provides higher phylogenetic resolution for southwestern Asian species than obtained in previous studies. A medium corolla length (15-18mm) was reconstructed as the ancestral state for Salvia with multiple shifts to shorter and longer corollas. Macroevolutionary model analyses indicate that corolla length disparity is high throughout Salvia evolution, significantly different from expectations under a Brownian motion model during the last 28 million years of evolution. Our analyses show evidence of a higher diversification rate of corolla length for some Andean species of Salvia compared to other members of the genus. Based on our tests of diversification models, we reject the hypothesis of a direct effect of the lever mechanism on Salvia diversification.ConclusionsUsing a broader species sampling than previous studies, we obtained a well- resolved phylogeny for southwest Asian species of Salvia. Corolla length is an adaptive trait throughout the Salvia phylogeny with a higher rate of diversification in the South American clade. Our results suggest caution in considering the lever-mechanism pollination system as one of the main drivers of speciation in Salvia.

In this study, the taxonomic placement of Satureja kallarica from Zagros mountain range of Iran is assessed using sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal ITS and the plastid trnL-F and matK regions. The findings are discussed on a morphological background. In consequence the species is formally transferred to the genus Clinopodium. It falls into the Clinopodium simense group which was so far restricted to tropical Africa.

Foliar and stem epidermal anatomical features of the tribe Cynoglosseae have been studied in detail for the taxonomic identification using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. A comparative study was conducted on different plant parts (leaf and stem epidermal anatomy) of 25 species belonging to eight genera of the tribe Cynoglosseae (Boraginaceae) collected from different phytogeographical regions of Iran for the first time. Different qualitative and quantitative characteristics were observed in detail using LM and SEM. Results showed that although generally the stem and leaf anatomical traits were similar, but some diagnostic features were examined for distinguishing the closely related genera in the tribe. The ratio of cortex/diameter of stem and phloem/xylem, the average row number of collenchyma, palisade and spongy cells, structure of trichomes, type of indumentum and palisade arrangement were found taxonomically important. The anatomical characters were statistically analyzed using cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The study found that stem and leaf eccentrics are variable in the genus but constant within species of the same genus. Most species had typical isobilateral leaves, but some showed an incipient dorsoventrally symmetry with a layer of abaxial palisade tissue. Eglandular trichomes were observed found in all the studied species, which were recognized based on structure and function. In present study some novel characters have been observed which are of great interest to the taxonomist for the correct identification some genera delimitations. The characters studied here are of less taxonomic value and delimitating at species level.

The palynomorphological characteristics of 31 species belonging to 8 genera (Paracaryum, Mattiastrum, Microparacaryum, Rindera, Cynoglossum, Solenanthus, Trachelanthus and Lindelofia) of the tribe Cynoglosseae (Boraginaceae) were studied in detail. Palynological observation of the tribe revealed that shape of pollen grains was frequently prolate, subprolate, prolate spheroidal and preprolate. The similarity in some features of the pollen shape and apertural type has been found in several genera such as Cynoglossum, Trachelanthus and Lindelofia. The main ornamentation type was psilate-punctate, psilate-perforate, microgranulate, punctate-microreticulate, scabrate, reticulate, microechinate, punctate-perforate. The species were classified into two pollen types: (i) Rindera tetraspis type and (ii) Cynoglossum officinale type on the basis of aperture characters and surface ornamentation. In present research both genera and species were delimited in the tribe Cynoglosseae. Main objective of the present research is to study different palynological characters for the identification and species delimitation in the tribe Cynoglosseae (Borginaceae). The present findings of the palynological characters are of great interest for the taxonomists for the accurate identification of genera and species in tribe Cynoglosseae. The micro-morphological characteristics of pollen show many novel features for the correct taxonomic identification and species delimitations and this study provide many valuable information to plant taxonomists for further studies.

Textured soy protein (TSP) and nuts are two processed forms of soybean (Genistein content was determined using high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), while diphenylpicrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were used to study antioxidant evaluation and Ellman's colorimetric method was used to measure anticholinesterase. TSP extract (TSPE) was administered to male rats (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p] for 7 days) before scopolamine injection (1 mg/kg). Learning capacity and spatial memory were evaluated using passive avoidance test (PAT) and Morris water maze (MWM) methods compared to physostigmine and piracetam.The greatest antioxidant and anticholinesterase effect was observed for TSPE, which significantly prolonged initially latency in PTA (P0.05) and improved all indicators in the MWM test at 200 mg/kg.The memory-improving effect of TSPE may be due to its antioxidant and anticholinesterase effect as well as neuroprotective effects of its isoflavones.Different samples (nuts-raw soybeans-TSP) prepared from soybeans.All samples exhibited antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase effects in vitro studies.TSP showed the most biological activity and the greatest genistein content.TSP significantly improved memory and learning indicators at 200 mg/kg.These effects are attributed to its antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity.Plant isoflavones have neuroprotective effects.Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one of the problems of the elderly society, which has a lot of emotional and financial costs. AD is a type of progressive brain disease in which neurons are destroyed and memory is lost. This disease currently has no definitive treatment and the only way is to prevent the disease from spreading. Much research has been devoted to finding suitable and effective treatments for AD. Many food and herbal medicines have shown to be effective in controlling this disease. Soybean is a plant that is widely used as food and snacks in Iran in different ways. In this study, we prepared three preparation from soya beans which have been widely used by Iranian people including raw soya, nut (roasted form) and textured soy protein (TSP). The effect of these preparations have been studied on memory and learning in amnestic rats through different pharmacological studies. The results indicated that TSP due to antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity significantly can augment memory enhancing and learning ability Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one of the problems of the elderly society, which has a lot of emotional and financial costs. AD is a type of progressive brain disease in which neurons are destroyed and memory is lost. This disease currently has no definitive treatment and the only way is to prevent the disease from spreading. Much research has been devoted to finding suitable and effective treatments for AD. Many food and herbal medicines have shown to be effective in controlling this disease. Soybean is a plant that is widely used as food and snacks in Iran in different ways. In this study, we prepared three preparation from soya beans which have been widely used by Iranian people including raw soya, nut (roasted form) and textured soy protein (TSP). The effect of these preparations have been studied on memory and learning in amnestic rats through different pharmacological studies. The results indicated that TSP due to antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity significantly can augment memory enhancing and learning ability. TSP also contains some phytochemicals such as phytoestrogens which have shown neuroprotective activity in different studies.

Iran lies within three major phytogeographical regions including the Euro-Siberian, Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Sindian regions. There are many microclimates and ecological niches in different parts of the country especially along the transitional and ecotone zones. The Mediterranean xeric oceanic (Mxo) microbioclimate is a noteworthy climatic condition which covers the lowland areas of the Mediterranean basin and surprisingly occurs also in three small patches in Iran, including the Sefid-Rud valley, southern foothills of Khabr Mountain and several valleys of western Jebal-e Barez Mountain range. The latter region is the subject of the present study. Unexpected occurrences of several Mediterranean species such as Cercis siliquastrum, Myrtus communis, Linaria iranica and Melissa officinalis are confirmed from this region and their distributions are briefly discussed in relation to climatic conditions., Doostmohammadi Moslem, Bordbar Firouzeh, Mirtadzadini Mansour. Floristic composition correlates with bioclimatic condition. Occurrence of several Mediterranean elements in southeast of Iran. In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 46 n°2, 2020. pp. 27-34.

Thlaspideae is an Old World tribe of Brassicaceae centered in SW Asia. Thirty-seven of 42 species (ca. 88%) in 13 genera of the tribe were analyzed using nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL-F markers in a family-wide context. Both singlemarker and concatenated phylogenies corroborated Thlaspideae as a well-supported monophyletic clade. With the exception of polyphyletic Alliaria and Parlatoria and paraphyletic Thlaspi and Didymophysa, the remaining genera were monophyletic. Alliaria petiolata comprised diploid and hexaploid populations in two well-resolved clades. The non-weedy diploid and hexaploid populations are restricted to SW Asia, and together with diploid A. taurica (formerly P. taurica), formed a sister clade to well-resolved Sobolewskia (3 spp.) and P. rostrata (now treated as the new monospecific genus Lysakia) clades. By contrast, the European and North American weedy and invasive hexaploid A. petiolata populations clustered with the diploid P. cakiloidea. Polyphyletic Thlaspi formed two distinct clades easily distinguished morphologically, and two of its six species are segregated into the new genus Mummenhoffia. Elburzia is reduced to synonymy of Didymophysa, and the new combinations D. fenestrata, Lysakia rostrata, Mummenhoffia alliacea, and M. oliveri are proposed and a diagnostic key for determination of Thlaspideae genera is presented. Age estimations based only on calibration by the controversial fossil Thlaspi primeavum resulted in unrealistic old age estimates. Chromosome counts are reported for 16 species.

Jurinea khorassanica from northeast Iran is described as a new species. Based on morphological characters it belongs to Jurinea sect. Stechmannia and its closest related taxa are the sympatric J. catharinae and J. dumulosa. However, the new species is obviously different from related species with respect to leaf, stem and head features. A detailed description, diagnostic table, illustrations and an updated key to the species of J. sect. Stechmannia in Iran are provided.

Drymocallis damghanensis Naderi & Faghir (Rosaceae) is described as a new species. The specimens were collected during a floristic study of an unexplored area on the rocky slopes of the Eastern Alborz Mountains (Damghan, Iran). Drymocallis damghanensis can be distinguished by its hairy carpels and rounded-obtuse teeth in leaflets. Here it is compared with the morphologically most closest taxa D. poteriifolia and D. schiraziana.

In the present work, the flora and the plant vegetation of a part of Bahr-aseman protected area of southern highlands in Iran was investigated. The selected area occupies Zamin hosein to Hanza-kuh altitudes which is located in the north of Jiroft, south of Kerman province. The study aims to determine the plant species, life forms, geographical distribution and the vegetation form of the plants in this area. The results revealed that 309 species of vascular plants belonging to 198 genus and 60 families occure in the area, three belonging to cryptogams, four to gymnosperms, 45 species to monocotyledons and 257 species to dicotyledons. Based on species richness, the most abundant families in the studied area are: Astereaceae (48 species), Poaceae (27 species), Lamiaceae (26 species) and Fabaceae (20 species). Fifty three percent (i.e. 166 species) of the flora of the studied area are exclusive to Irano-Turanian floristic region. Throphytes (28%), hemicryptophytes (27%), cryptophytes (18%), chamaephytes (15%) and phanerophytes (10%) and parasites (2%), are the most frequent life forms in this area respectively. Thirty species are trees and shrubs and 21 out of 317 species are endemic to southeastern Iran. Landscape, application and the threatening factors of the plant vegetation in this area is discussed.

Cousinia brevicaulis is described and illustrated as a new species from eastern Iran. This species belongs to the C. sect. Lasiandra Bunge as defined by hairy anther tube, yellow, pale yellow or rarely milky flowers, monocarpic growth form and corymbose branching of stem. It is easily distinguished from other species of the section by its very short-stemmed habit. The new species is distributed in the same region as other species of C. sect. Lasiandra.

Scorzonera L. is represented by 57 species in Iran including three subgenera: S. subg. Scorzonera, S. subg. Podospermum and S. subg. Pseudopodospermum. Species of S. subg. Podospermum and S. subg. Pseudopodospermum in Iran are morphologically similar, which limits species delimitation. In order to clarify intersubgeneric and interspecific delimitation in Iran, we carried out extensive sampling of the two subgenera in Iran. We conducted phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer (nrITS), detailed morphological studies, and we evaluated the systematic value of achene features. Our results showed that Scorzonera s.l. is polyphyletic, and both S. subg. Podospermum and S. subg. Pseudopodospermum are monophyletic. The monophyly of S. subg. Podospermum morphologically corresponds to a combination of characters containing pinnatifid leaves, phyllaries with black corniculate projections, and the presence of a swollen carpopodium on the achenes. A comparison of the topology observed in the nrITS phylogeny with achene features indicates that a sculptured achene wall surface in members of S. subg. Pseudopodospermum provides a synapomorphy for this lineage. This study supports a broader circumscription of S. subg. Pseudopodospermum with the addition of S. calyculata (S. sect. Incisae), S. ovata, S. papposa and S. paradoxa (S. sect. Papposae). Finally, we provide a taxonomic treatment, including an identification key and species diagnoses and distributions, with nomenclature of Iranian species.Citation: Hatami E., Mirtadzadini M., Bordbar F. & Jones K. E. 2020: Delimitation of Iranian species of Scorzonera subg. Podospermum and S. subg. Pseudopodospermum (Asteraceae, Cichorieae) based on morphological and molecular data. – Willdenowia 50: 39–63. doi: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.50.50105Version of record first published online on 6 March 2020 ahead of inclusion in April 2020 issue.

This research is based on the floristic study of Ra'skuh area of Baft Township in Kerman province that the wild vascular plants were collected and identified. This area with about 5500 hectares is located in 20 km of northeast of Baft town and 170 km southwest of the center of the Kerman province. Its minimum altitude is 2400 m and maximum 2700 m above the sea level. The annual average rainfall is 280 mm and the vacillation average of temperature is between -5 and 38 oC. This area is mountainous and a part of the Irano-Turanian region. The physiognomy of vegetation is chiefly as steppe (Astragalus spp. and Artemisia sieberi) but some parts are scrublands or woodlands (Acer monspessulanum, Amygdalus spp., Pistacia atlantica, …). Based on our study, 247 plant species of 51 families and 176 genera were identified which of them one family of Gymnospermes with one species, 43 families with 147 genera and 211 species of dicots Angiospermes, 7 families with 28 genera and 35 species of monocots Angiospermes were recognized. The family Asteraceae with 36 species and the genus Astragalus with 16 species as largest family and genus were identified in the region. Most of the species had Irano-Turanian nature from viewpoint of the phytogeographical aspects. Life forms were including 38.9% therophytes, 26.3% hemicryptophytes, 16.6% Chamaephytes, 9.7% geophytes, 7.3% phanerophytes and 1.2% hydrophytes.