A taxonomic note on the Cephalaria sect. Atrocephalae (Caprifoliaceae) from Iran

Cephalaria kleinii Ranjbar & Z. Ranjbar sp. nova from Iran is described and illustrated. It is confined to Mazandaran province in northern Iran. The new species is closely related to C. kotschyi Boiss. & Hohen., but differs from it by its abaxial leaves colour, its basal leaves shape, dissection and petiole length, by the shape of apices of lateral and terminal segments of the cauline leaves, by the shape of apices of lateral and terminal segments of the upper leaves and by peduncle length. Furthermore, C. axillaris is resurrected and lectotypes are designated for C. axillaris and C. kotschyi for the first time.     

Trichodorus orientalis n.sp. (Nematoda: Trichodoridae) from Jordan and Iran

Summary A new species ofTrichodorus is described from the rhizosphere of vegetables (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. andPhaseolus vulgaris L.) in Jordan and from the rhizosphere of grape-vine (Vitis sp.) in Iran.The females are characterized by the shape of the sclerotized thickenings at the vulva. The males are characterized by the shorter body, onchiostyle and spicules and by the shape of the spicules. ac]19830124     

Dionysia assadii sp. nov. (Primulaceae: sect. Dionysiopsis) from southern Iran

The new species Dionysia assadii (Primulaceae) from the Irano–Turanian region in Fars province, Iran, is described and illustrated. It is compared with its closest relative Dionysia esfandiarii Wendelbo and differs from it in leaf shape, leaf margin, hair density of leaves and other organs, shape of calyx and bracts, color of corolla and status of lobes, form and color of seeds, as well as the length of anthers and style in longistylous flowers.     

Morphometric and morphological variation between two different populations of Phlebotomus major s.l. from endemic and non‐endemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

Populations of Phlebotomus major were examined in two endemic and nonendemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran. Based on the shape of the aedeagus and ventrally located hairs of coxite and pharyngeal armatures, two morphotypes were found sympatrically in the endemic area of Borazjan. Significant differences in morphometric survey were observed in at least 11 measured characters. The aedeagus of the non‐endemic Miyandoab morphotype, and also of a few specimens from Borazjan, is completely parallel throughout its length with a slightly expanded end. Ventrally located hairs of the middle coxite were longer and more compact. It is close morphologically to P. major neglectus (P. neglectus), which was recently recorded from Iran. It is also morphologically similar to P. notus, which has not yet been reported from Iran and needs further investigation. The aedeagus of the morphotype occurring only in Borazjan is narrower in the middle and the hairs are closer to the base of the coxite and are shorter and more outspread, which makes it similar to P. major krimensis or P. neglectus. The two morphotypes occurring sympatrically in Borazjan do not appear to be subspecies and it may be premature to propose them as separate species. Further investigation is needed to clarify the actual status of P. major s. l. in Iran.     

Novelty in Centaurea sect. Acrocentron (Asteraceae,Cardueae) from Iran

A new species, Centaurera bojnordensis Ranjbar, Negaresh & Joharchi (Asteraceae), endemic to Khorasan Province in northeastern Iran and belonging to Centaurea sect. Acrocentron, is described and illustrated. This species is mainly distinguished from C. sintenisiana of C. sect. Acrocentron by its indumentum of stem, shape and size of involucres, cilia and spine length. In addition, geographical distribution of the two species is presented and shown. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crataegus coriifolia sp. nov. (Rosaceae) from Iran

Crataegus coriifolia Sharifnia & Zarrinkolah is described as a new species from Iran. Its taxonomic relationships, ecology and distribution are discussed. An identification key to C. coriifolia and other two‐styled species of Crataegus occurring in Iran is provided.     

Plinthus persicus n. sp. with biogeographic considerations on the P. illotus species group (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae)

Plinthus persicus n. sp. is described; type locality: Iran, Mazandaran, 10 km SW of Rudbarak. The new species belongs to the group of Plinthus illotus, composed of some species distributed in Armenia and Transcaucasus; it expands the range of the genus to northern Iran. Some biogeographical and ecological notes are discussed. A key to the P. illotus species group is added.     

Seed morphology of Iranian annual species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae)

Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) is one of the largest and most diversified cosmopolitan genera of flowering plants. South‐west Asia is a major centre of diversity and contains c. 65 annual species, 35 of which occur in Iran. In this article, the seed morphology of all Iranian annual species was studied, including E. aulacosperma and E. rhabdothosperma, both new records for Iran. Quantitative and qualitative macro‐ and micromorphological features of seeds and caruncles were investigated using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Caruncle characters (shape, size, colour) and seed characters (shape, size, colour, ornamentation) are often constant and useful in identification and classification. An identification key and scanning electron micrographs are provided for all known Iranian taxa. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 167 , 212–234.     

Crataegus grossidentata sp. nov. (Rosaceae–Pyreae), a new hawthorn from northern Iran

Crataegus grossidentata Sharifnia & K. I. Chr., found in northern Iran, is described and illustrated as a species new to science. Its ecology, distribution and taxonomic relationships are discussed. A key to C. grossidentata and other one‐styled taxa of Crataegus occurring in Iran is provided.     

Taxonomic status of the loaches Paracobitis vignai and P. rhadinaea (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) in Iran

The crested loaches of the genus Paracobitis from the Sistan basin (Iran) are reviewed based on morphological and mitochondrial cytb and COI sequences characters to check the status of taxa in phylogenetic trees. Paracobitis rhadinaea (Regan, 1906) and P. vignai Nalbant & Bianco, 1998 were known only based on minor morphological differences (presence or absence of scales, caudal fin shape, colour pattern and fish size). We failed to find any diagnostic molecular and morphological characters between them. Therefore, we regard P. vignai as a junior synonym of P. rhadinaea.     

Phaseolus lunatus,a New Host of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli in Iran

Common bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) is one of the most destructive diseases limiting the production of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Iran. The disease has previously been described on common bean and mung bean from several regions of Iran, including the central plain and south‐western provinces. In this study, lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus cv. Christmas) plants are being reported as a new natural host of Xap in East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, northwestern Iran. Disease symptoms consisted initially of water‐soaked spots that progressed to irregular necrotic lesions with chlorotic margins. Infection was observed to affect up to 40% of plants in the field. Identification of the pathogen was based on the biochemical and molecular characteristics, as well as the pathogenicity tests. To our knowledge, this is the first report of X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli causing common bacterial blight on lima bean plants in Iran.     

Pyrus cordifolia sp. nov. and two new records of Pyrus (Rosaceae) from Iran

A new species, namely Pyrus cordifolia (P. sect. Pashia) is described as new to science, and two new records including P. tamamschianiae (P. sect. Pyrus) and P. theodorovii var. latifolia (P. sect. Argyromalon) are reported for the flora of Iran. These taxa are compared with their closest relatives. Photographs and a distribution map of these taxa as well as an illustration of the new species are presented. An identification key to members of P. sect. Pashia in Iran is provided.     

Centaurea rahiminejadii sp. nov. and a new record in the genus Centaurea (Asteraceae,Cardueae–Centaureinae) from Iran

A new species, Centaurea rahiminejadii Negaresh (Asteraceae) in C. sect. Cynaroides Boiss. ex Walp., is described and illustrated from the Kermanshah Province, west Iran. It is morphologically similar to Centaurea regia Boiss. subsp. regia. Diagnostic morphological of this and closely related taxa are discussed and presented. The ecology, habitat and conservation status of the new species are also described. In addition, Centaurea regia subsp. cynarocephala (Wagenitz) Wagenitz is reported as a new record to the flora of Iran. Finally, the geographic distribution of the new species and closely related species is presented and mapped.     

Cranial variation in Meriones tristrami (Rodentia: Muridae: Gerbillinae) and its morphological comparison with Meriones persicus,Meriones vinogradovi and Meriones libycus: a geometric morphometric study

Jirds (genus Meriones) comprise a group of rodents, of which the biodiversity is still poorly known. Reason for this is that several species of similar morphologies are known to occur sympatrically. In the north‐west of Iran, four such species occur: Meriones tristrami, Meriones persicus, Meriones vinogradovi and Meriones libycus, prone to several issues of taxonomical ambiguity. A proper characterization of morphological distinctiveness between these species, in relation to the variation within species, could provide the required information for species diagnosis and identification. As some cranial characters of M. tristrami, M. persicus and M. vinogradovi are quite similar, demarcations of species‐specific phenotypic variation have proven to be difficult. To tackle this problem, this study involves a geometric morphometric analysis of skull shape and size, incorporating a large representative sample of these four species, originating from most parts of their natural distribution range (especially for M. tristrami). It is first tested whether M. tristrami can be distinguished from the other sympatric species, and if so, to what degree the species shows a geoclimatic pattern in its skull shape and size when comparing different populations. The shape and size analyses show that M. libycus can be distinguished because of its largest skull and the relatively largest tympanic bulla, and that M. tristrami can be distinguished from the other species. At an intraspecific level in M. tristrami, the Iranian groups (Qazvin and west Iran) do not differ in shape among them, but do so in skull size. They could, however, be distinguished in skull shape from the non‐Iranian populations included (Turkey and Jordan). To what degree this continuous data can now be translated into discrete and diagnostic features, useful for taxonomic purposes, remains to be studied.     

Seed and capsule morphology of Iranian perennial species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) and its phylogenetic application

Of the 480 species of Euphorbia subgenus Esula, c. 290 occur in the Mediterranean and Irano‐Turanian regions. Turkey and Iran are the most species‐rich countries in Asia with 83 and 74 species, respectively. Following our previous paper on annual species of Iranian Euphorbia, we studied the quantitative and qualitative macro‐ and micromorphological traits of seeds and capsules of 47 perennial species, including E . ferdowsiana sp. nov. , E . sulphurea sp. nov. and E. glareosa, as a first report from Iran. A key for all Iranian perennial Euphorbia spp. based on seed and capsule morphology is provided. The phylogenetic relationships of Iranian species based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nuclear and ndhF plastid regions are updated and used for the characterization of the synapomorphies of each clade. Capsule shape, seed shape, seed surface and shape of the caruncle have been found to be homoplastic, whereas the presence or absence of granulate elements on seed surfaces represents a phylogenetically important trait for section delimitation. The capsule surface is synapomorphic for several sections, including Helioscopia (tuberculate‐verrucose), Myrsiniteae (vesiculate) and Esula (granulate), and seed shape is synapomorphic for sections Helioscopia (ellipsoidal), Myrsiniteae (ovoid‐quadrangular) and Herpetorrhizae (pseudo‐hexahedral). Reversals have also taken place in some features, including capsule surface (E. mazandaranica, E. altissima) and seed shape (E. densa, E. aleppica). It seems that ecarunculate seeds are plesiomorphic in sections Helioscopia (E. eriophora) and Herpetorrhizae (E. consanguinea and E. turczaninowii). © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 00 , 000–000.     

Phytosociology of Juniperus excelsa M.Bieb. forests in Alborz mountain range in the north of Iran

Juniperus excelsa is one of the specific tree species in the mountainous areas of Iran. It forms the mountainous forests of Irano-Turanian vegetation region. Despite the considerable spread of J. excelsa in Iran, there is no detailed and valid published study on the phytosociology of Iranian juniper stands. The aim of this research is to identify these associations and their characteristics in Alborz mountains in the north of Iran. To this goal, a set of data including floristic data according to Braun-Blanquet method, and important environmental characteristics, were collected. To classify the vegetation, TWINSPAN was used and phytosociology tables were analysed with JUICE software. Diagnostic species were determined by measuring the degree of fidelity and using statistically meaningful measurements. According to the results, the vegetation was classified into six associations and five subassociations. Among them are Cotoneastro nummulariis-Juniperetum excelsae ass. nov., Lonicero ibericae-Juniperetum excelsae ass. nov., Rhamno pallasii-Juniperetum excelsae ass. nov., Rhamno p.-Juniperetum e. ajugetosum chamaecisti subass. nov., Rhamno p.-Juniperetum excelsae gypsophiletosum aretioidis subass. nov., Amygdalo lycioidis-Pistacietum atlanticae hymenocratretosum bituminosoris Kashipazha et al. 2007, Feruletum ovinae ass. nov., Artemisio aucheri-Astragaletum veri Asri 2004, and Artemisio aucheri-Onobrychidetum cornutae ass. nov. The introduced juniper associations were placed in class Junipero-Pistacietea Zohary 1973 and order Juniperetalia excelsae nov.     

Dasycladales from the Permian Jamal Formation of the Shotori Mountains,northeast Iran

Calcareous algae of the Permian Jamal Formation were studied in three sections of the Shotori Mountains, located in northeastern Iran. In this paper, four genera including Imperiella Elliott and Süssli, Nanjinoporella Mu and Elliott, Tabasoporella nov. gen., and Pseudotabasoporella nov. gen. are described from the Howz-e Dorah locality, which is exposed about 2 km northeast of the type section of Jamal Formation in Mount Jamal. Tabasoporella nov. gen. is characterized by metaspondyl arrangement of phloiophore and wine-glass-shaped laterals with a stalk grouped to tufts. The individual tufts are separated by a ring-like cavity appearing as triangular, oval, or trapezoid in longitudinally dissected section. The arrangement and shape of the laterals in Pseudotabasoporella nov. gen. is similar to Tabasoporella nov. gen., but there are no cavities between the tufts. All four genera are highly developed and limited to the Permian period. They disappear at the end of Permian and are not found in the Triassic sediments. Until today, two species of Imperiella are found in Iran and Afghanistan. I. iranica Elliott and Süssli was described only from the Ruteh Formation of Alborz Mountains in north Iran and I. afghanica was described from the Permian of Afghanistan. The Jamal Formation of the Shotori Mountains is the second locality where both species are discovered. Moreover, species I. crassiparietalis and I. gracilis are the two new species described here. The genus Nanjinoporella—with type species N. pagoda Mu and Elliott—was known from the Permian (Artinskian) Chishia Formation of Nanjing, China. We describe the new species Nanjinoporella iranica from the Permian Jamal Formation of the Shotori Mountains, northeast Iran.