NOTES ON THE TAXONOMY AND SAMERARIA (BRASSICACEAE) IN IRAN DISTRIBUTION OF H. Moazzeni, Sh. Zarre & H. Ranjbar Moazzeni, H., Zarre, S. & Ranjbar, H. 2006 12 31: Notes on the taxonomy and distribution of the Sameraria DESV. (Brassicaceae) in Iran. –Iran. J. Bot. 12 (2): 163-168. Tehran. D In the course of preparing a revision of Sameraria and its allies (tribe Isatideae) in Iran, we found some specimens of S. glastifolia (sect. Tetrapterygium), a species closely related to S. stylophora. Moreover, S. elegans is reduced to synonymy of S. armena. As S. stenophylla has also been recorded recently from Iran, a diagnostic key including all species of the genus in Iran is presented SI Hamid Moazzeni & Shahin Zarre ,Department of Botany, School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, P.O. Box: 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran .– Hamideh Ranjbar Research Centre of Forests and Rangelands, P. O. Box. 141-5355, Tabriz, Iran, Key words. Sameraria, Brassicaceae, identification key, new record, new synonymy, Iran. of ‫ )ﺗﻴﺮﻩ ﺷﺐ ﺑﻮ( ﺩﺭ ﺍﻳﺮﺍﻥ‬Sameraria ‫ﻳﺎﺩﺍﺷﺘﻬﺎﻳﻲ ﺑﺮ ﺗﺎﻛﺴﻮﻧﻮﻣﻲ ﻭ ﭘﺮﺍﻛﻨﺶ‬ ‫ﺒﺮ‬%‫ ﺷﺎﻫﻴﻦ ﺯﺍﺭﻉ ﻭ ﺣﻤﻴﺪﻩ ﺭﻧ‬،‫ﺣﻤﻴﺪ ﻣﻮﺫﻧﻲ‬ ‫ ﻗﺮاﺑﺖ زﻳﺎدي ﻧﺸﺎن‬S. stylophora ‫ ﻛﻪ ﺑﺎ‬S. glastifolia ‫ ﮔﻮﻧﻪ‬،‫ در اﻳﺮان‬Sameraria ‫در راﺳﺘﺎي ﺑﺮرﺳﻲ ﺗﺎﻛﺴﻮﻧﻮﻣﻲ ﺟﻨﺲ‬ ‫ﻳﻚ‬. ‫ ﺷﻨﺎﺧﺘﻪ ﻣﻲ ﺷﻮد‬S. armena ‫ ﻣﺘﺮادف ﺑﺎ‬S. elegans ‫ﻣﻲدﻫﺪ ﺑﻪ ﻋﻨﻮان ﮔﻮﻧﻪ ﺟﺪﻳﺪي ﺑﺮاي اﻳﺮان ﮔﺰارش و ﻫﻤﭽﻨﻴﻦ‬ INTRODUCTION ive .‫ﻛﻠﻴﺪ ﺷﻨﺎﺳﺎﻳﻲ و ﻧﻜﺎﺗﻲ در ارﺗﺒﺎط ﺑﺎ ﺗﺸﺨﻴﺺ اﻓﺘﺮاﻗﻲ ﮔﻮﻧﻪ ﻫﺎ در اﻳﻦ ﺟﻨﺲ اراﺋﻪ ﻣﻲ ﺷﻮد‬ Ar ch The genus Sameraria Desv. (Brassicaceae) comprises approximately nine species distributed primarily in SW Asia (Davis 1964, 1965; Jafri 1973; Appel & AlShehbaz 2003; Al-Shehbaz & al. 2006). Sameraria is a predominantly Irano-Turanian genus (Davis 1964; Jafri 1973), with its major distribution area from Iran to central Asia. Five species (one endemic) grow in Iran, four in Caucasus, three in Armenia and Turkemenistan, two each in Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Afghanistan and one each in Iraq and Pakistan. Sameraria is very close to Isatis L. in habit, leaf, inflorescence and flower characters (Hedge 1968; Jafri 1973). It is only distinguishable from Isatis by having distinct (instead of obsolete) style (Davis 1964; 1965; Hedge1968; Jafri 1973). Like many genera in Brassicaceae, Sameraria has been poorly described and illustrated in the previous studies. In the majority of cases, only the fruit characters have been described and drawn in details. Therefore, some taxonomic characters considered in previous studies as important in circumscribing the species within the tribe Isatideae sensu Al-Shehbaz et al. (2006) are discussed below. Duration and habit: All Sameraria species are annual, although some specimens of S. nummularia Bornm. are robust annual or binneial with a woody stem. In S. elegans Boiss. the stem is sometimes procumbent. It is not known whether these variations are a direct environmental response or the result of inherited differences. Leaves: Basal (radical) leaves and median stem leaves are always very different in form, and therefore both should be collected for the determination of species. That poseses some difficulties, because in many species the basal leaves are withered by the time the plant is in fruit. In many species the basal leaves vary from entire to toothed (S. elegans) or even pinnatley lobed (S. stenophylla Rech. f.). The median stem leaves have acute or obtuse auricles. Leaf size and shape are not useful in the separation of species in Sameraria. Indumentum: Most of the specimens studied are glabrous on leaves and stems. Furthermore, leaf and stem indumentum are unreliable in the separation of species in Sameraria due to their variability even among different individuals of the same population. Inflorescence: The inflorescence is a compound panicle varying in being dense or lax. For example, S. www.SID.ir IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 12 (2), 2006 Moazzeni, & al. 164 D Holmgren & Holmgren 1998), and the local herbarium of University of Tabriz, Faculty of Agriculture (TABUH). According to Hedge (1968) four species of Sameraria are distributed in Iran. Moazzeni & al. (2006) have recently added S. stenophylla. Several field studies were also conducted in N and NW Iran in order to study the character variability within certain species and to collect more herbarium material. We had also the opportunity to study some specimens of S. glastifolia from Turkey provided to us by Dr Ali Dönmez of Hacettepe University. An updated key and distribution maps of all species of Sameraria in Iran are given below. Key to the species of Sameraria distributed in Iran SI 2 1- Silicles with 4 wings (sect Tetrapterygium) 4 - Silicles with 2 lateral wings (Sect. Sameraria) 2-Silicles 9-12 × 8-10 mm; fruiting raceme elongated; S. nummularia petals 2-4 mm wide - Silicles 17-24 × 15-20 mm; petals 1- 3 mm wide; 3 fruiting raceme short 3-Petals 1-1.5 mm wide; style (1-)2-3 mm long S. stylophora - Petals 2-3 mm wide; style up to 1 mm long S. glastifolia 4- Petals 6-7 × ca. 2 mm; cauline leaves with sagittate S. stenophylla auricles, apex attenuate - Petals 2-4.5 × 1-1.5 mm; cauline leaves with rounded S.armena auricles, apex rounded Ar ch ive of nummularia has a lax and elongated fruiting raceme in comparison to other species with a dense and short fruiting raceme. Flowers: In Sameraria flower size provides valuable characters in separating the species. For example, S. stenophylla has large flowers with petals about 7 mm long, while S. armena (L.) Desv., a close relative, has petals to 4 mm long. Regarding corolla size, there are overlaps among the species, Sameraria armena and S. elegans are considered to be distinct species based on petal size, which does not exceed 2.5 mm in S. armena, while about 4 mm in S. elegans. However, based on our detailed measurements of many herbarium sheets of both species, a continuous range was observed for them. Therefore, we suggest the synonymy of these species. The shape, size, color and indumentum of sepals are again not valuable to be used as differential characters. Sepals are almost 3 × 1 mm in size, their shape is oblong and their color varies from green or violet (some specimens of S. elegans) to whitish green. Fruit: Fruit dehiscence (vs. indehiscence) has always been emphasized as a useful feature in the classification of the Brassicaceae. Despite its considerable variability within many taxa, its importance both for classification and identification cannot be denied. It's often impossible to infer from immature fruit what the form of the ripe organ is going to be. However, the indehiscent fruit of Sameraria is a silicle with two (sect. Sameraria) or four wings (sect. Tetraptrygium). The fruit is orbicular to ovate in shape and cordate at base. In many cases the species cannot be recognized when the plants are in flower. However, the role of fruit in distinguishing the taxa is not as important as for Isatis species. Style length is valuable in distinguishing some species, such as S. stylophora (Jaub. & Spach.) Boiss. (style 0.5-1 mm long) from S. glastifolia (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) Boiss. (style 2-3 mm long). Although fruit shape and size has been used to identify many taxa in the tribe Isatideae, presence or absence of a style is a very important character for separating Sameraria from Isatis. As shown by molecular systematic studies (Koch & al. 2003; Mitchell-Olds & al. 2005; Mummenhoff & al. 2005; Al-Shehbaz & al. 2006) fruit and embryo features can be subjected to considerable convergence and therefore are sometimes taxonomically unreliable. Phylogenetic studies of Sameraria and its generic relatives (Isatideae) in Iran are well underway at University of Tehran. TAXONOMIC ACCOUNT The study of Sameraria and its allies was mainly based on material deposited in the main herbaria of Iran, such as FUMH, IRAN, TUH (abbreviations follow New report to Iran Sameraria glastifolia (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Boiss., Fl. Or. 1: 375 (1867). Syn: Tetrapterygium glastifolia Fisch. & C.A. Mey., Ind. Sem. Hort. Petrop. 1:39 (1835). Illustration: Fig. 1. Herb annual. Stems 20-35(-40) cm long, branched at base, sometimes branched at middle, glabrous. Basal leaves rosulate; petiole 1-1.5 cm long; leaf blade obovate to oblong, (15-)2-2.5 × (1-)1.2-1.4(-1.5) cm, base cuneate, margin entire or dentate to sinuate, apex obtuse to rounded; cauline leaves amplexicaul; leaf blade oblong or lanceolate, base auriculate, margin entire to sinuate, apex acute or obtuse. Fruiting pedicels 5-7 mm long, slender, deflexed to patent, glabrous. Sepals whitish green, oblong, 3-3.5(-4.5) × ca. 1.5 mm, glabrous. Petals yellow to yellowish white, obovate, 4.5-5.5(-6) × (1-)1.5-2(-2.5) mm, claw 2-2.5 mm long. Staminal filaments (1.5-)2.5-3.5 mm long. Fruits orbicular, winged all around, (9-)10-12 × (5-)79(-11) mm, base cordate; style 0.5-1 mm, glabrous or rarely villous; wings 4, (2.5-)3-4 mm wide at locule; www.SID.ir IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 12 (2), 2006 Ar ch ive of SI D 165 Sameraria in Iran Fig. 1. Sameraria glastifolia, A: habit, B: inflorescence, C: mature fruit. Scale bar in A = 1 cm, B = 1 cm, C = 5 mm. www.SID.ir IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 12 (2), 2006 Moazzeni, & al. 166 Table 1. Comparison between Sameraria armena, S. elegans and their closest relative S. stenophylla. S. stenophylla S. elegans1 S. armena Characters obovate-oblong spatulate spatulate Basal leaves 6-7 (3-) 3.5-4 2-3(-3.5) Petal length (mm) yellow yellowish white yellowish white Petal color 7-10 7-11 5-10(-12) Pedicel length (mm) 15-15 (13-)15-19 15-19(-20) Silicle length (mm) 1-3 0.5-1.5 0.5-1 Style length (mm) densely villous absent or villous absent or villous Fruit indumentum 1 In the case of Sameraria elegans we mean the individuals appropriate with its type, but we do not accept it as a distinct taxon. SI D with petals about 4 mm long, which fits with the description of S. elegans. The differences in pedicel length are also misleading, as we found several intermediate plants. The pedicels are said to be 3-7 mm long in S. armena subsp. armena, but 10-15 mm in S. armena subsp. flaccida (table 1). Rechinger (1976) also mentioned that S. elegans is rather frequent, often together with the S. armena (fig. 3) in Touran Protected Area in South Semnan. Sameraria armena is related to S. stenophylla, but it is easily distinguishable from the latter mainly by its large petals (6-7 mm against maximally 4.5 mm in S. armena) and its densely villous fruits (against glabrous ones in S. armena). A more detailed comparison between these species is given in table 1. ch ive of locule 4-5 mm wide, positioned at middle or base. Seeds light brown, oblong, (2-)3-4 × (1-)1.5-2.5 mm. Flowering period. April-May General distribution. Iran, Central Asia, Turkey Specimens examined. Iran, Prov. East Azarbaijan, Siyah roud, Aras, Youssefy 6968 (TABUH); N Kalibar, Buran Olia, Youssefy 7672 (TABUH); N Tabriz, Marand, Katal, Youssefy 9932 (TABUH). Sameraria glastifolia is clearly related to S. stylophora, from which it is distinguished by having broader petals 2-3 mm wide (vs. 1-1.5 mm wide in S. stylophora) and shorter styles (up to 1 mm vs. 2-3 mm in S. stylophora). However, distribution patterns of these species overlap with each other (map. 1). Sameraria stylophora shows a wide distribution area in Iran, while S. glastifolia is known only from Prov. East Azarbaijan near the borders to Azerbaijan country (map. 1). According to Davis (1965) and Bush & Vasilchenko (1939) Sameraria glastifolia is also distributed in NE Turkey (A9) and Caucasus (Nakhichevan). A new synonymy in Sameraria Ar Based on Hedge (1968), S. armena is distinguishable from S. elegans only by having shorter petals (2-2.5 mm long vs. 4-4.5 mm long in S. elegans). However, through our detailed field examination and measurement of several herbarium materials, there are many intermediate forms, and the distinction between them is not as sharp as alleged by Hedge. Moreover, plants with small and large flowers occur in the same population. The type locality of S. elegans is between Yazd and Kerman in South Iran, in a same area we found several plants with shorter flowers as those of S. armena. Hedge (1968) also attributed some plants collected in this area by Bunge (Numbers 78 and 79) to S. elegans and one plant to S. armena. We found also mixed individuals (regarding petal size) in populations distributed in provinces Semnan and Khorassan (map. 2). Interestingly, Jafri (1973) described a new subspecies under S. armena as subsp. flaccida Jafri, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful to Ihsan Al-Shehbaz (Missouri Botanical Garden) for correcting the English and review of the manuscript. We thank Ali Dِönmez (Hacettepe University), Mansur Mirtajedini (Kerman University), Mohammad Reza Joharchi (Mashhad University), Hossein Maroofi (Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Kordestan) and Ahmad Gharemani (Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tabriz) for providing herbarium material of several species. The study was supported in part by the Research Council of Tehran University. REFERENCES Al-Shehbaz, I.A., Beilstein, M.A. & Kellogg, E.A. 2006: Systematic and phylogeny of Brassicaceae (Cruciferae): an overview. -Pl. Syst. Evol. 259: 89120. Appel, O. & Al-Shehbaz, I.A. 2003: Cruciferae. In: Kubitzki, K. (ed.). Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Vol. 5: pp.75-174. -Berlin and Heidelberg: Springer–Verlag. Boissier, E. 1867: Flora Orientalis. -Basileae. 1: 374376 www.SID.ir IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 12 (2), 2006 167 Sameraria in Iran 40N D 35N SI 30N 45E of 25N 50E 60E 55E ch 40N ive Map. 1. Distribution map of Sameraria stylophora (●) and S. glastifolia (▲) in Iran. Ar 35N 30N 25N 45E 50E 55E 60E Map.2. Distribution map of Sameraria armena (▲) and S. elegans (●) in Iran. www.SID.ir IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 12 (2), 2006 Moazzeni, & al. 168 40N D 35N SI 30N 45E of 25N 50E 55E 60E Map.3. Distribution map of Sameraria stenophylla (▲) and S. nummularia (●) in Iran. Ar ch ive Bush, N.A. & Vasil'chenko, I.T. 1939: Sameraria. In Komarov VL (ed) Flora of USSR., Vol. 8: pp. 172177. -Moskva, Leningrad: Akademii Nauk SSSR.[in Russian] Davis, P.H. 1964: Matterials for a flora of Turkey: VIII cruciferae 1: Isatis. -Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Vol. 26: 11-25. Davis, P.H. 1965: Sameraria. In: Davis PH (ed.) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Vol. 1: pp.1567. -Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Hedge, I.C. 1968: Lepidieae. In: Rechinger KH (ed.) Flora Iranica, no. 57: 63-122. -Graz: Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt. 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K., Al-Shehbaz, I.A., Bakker, F.T., Linder, H.P. & Mühlhaussen, A. 2005: Phylogeny, morphological evolution, and speciation of endemic Brassicaceae genera in the Cape flora of southern Africa. -Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 92: 400-424. Rechinger, K.H. 1976: Plant of the kavir protected region, Iran. -Iran. J. Bot. 1:23-56. www.SID.ir