A BIOSYSTEMATIC STUDY ON THE FOUR VARIETIES OF ALYSSUM MINUS (BRASSICACEAE) IN IRAN

Alyssum minus (L.) Rothm. var. minus is recorded for the first time from Iran. Alyssum minus (L.) Rothm. var. mazandaranicum Pakravan & Bolourian is described as a new taxon from the North and West of Iran. The four varieties of Alyssum minus in Iran (A. minus (L.) Rothm. var. minus, -var. strigosum (Banks & Sol.) Zohary, -var. micranthum (C.A.Mey.) Dudley and - var. mazandaranicum Pakravan & Bolourian) based on their morphological, palynological and anatomical characters were studied and compared with A. desertorum Stapf and A. szowitsianum Fisch. & Mey., from the same section. Although a great similarity observed in morphological characters and many intermediate specimens especially between the varieties of A. minus var minus and -var. micranthum (C. A. Mey.) Dudley was found, due to anatomical differentiation in sclerenchymatous cells and palynological differences in pollen size and shape, the varieties of Alyssum minus (L.) Rothm. were distinguishable.

Keywords:

Alyssum , Brassicaceae , Iran , pollen , Anatomy , Taxonomy