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Ornithogalum marivanense Maroofi & Ghaderi sp. nova (subgen. Beryllis) is described and illustrated from the Kurdistan Province in western Iran. It morphologically resembles O. sanandajense, O. brachystachys, O. khuzestanicum and O. arcuatum. Diagnostic characters of O. marivanense are provided along with the illustration and notes on its habitat and phenology. Ornithogalum luschanii and O. kurdicum are reported for the first time from Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, pollen micromorphology and ultrastructure of eight species belonging to genera including Alrawia, Bellevalia, Fessia, Muscari, Othocallis, Prospero, Puschkinia, and Zagrosia were investigated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The pollen size varied among the studied species. Othocallis monanthos and Muscari neglectum had the largest and smallest pollen grains, respectively. Based on the Polar axis/Equatorial axis (P/E) ratio, Bellevalia saviczii had peroblate pollen shape and the rest were oblate. Exine ornamentation on the equatorial surface, sulcus margin exine ornamentation, and intine ornamentation in the sulcus membrane region of the pollen grains varied among the selected species of all genera. The exine layer in all genera had semitectate tectum, simplicolumellate infratectum, and discontinuous foot layer. There was discontinuous endexine in M. neglectum, Prospero autumnale, and Zagrosia persica. Alrawia bellii, P. autumnale, and Puschkinia scilloides had three intine layers in the sulcus membrane region, O. monanthos had two, and the rest of the species had one. Also, in those species with three layers in the sulcus membrane region, the outer intine layer had many channels. A dendrogram of the palynological characters grouped them into three pollen types and six pollen subtypes. The pollen types verified the phylogenetic relationships among the studied genera, whereas the pollen subtypes partly supported these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornithogalum boissieri Bidarlord & F. Ghahrem. (Asparagaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from the Talesh Mountains (NW Iran). The morphological characters that distinguish it from the most similar species O. cuspidatum are given. Information on the ecology and distribution of O. boissieri is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leopoldia tabriziana Jafari (Hyacinthaceae) from northwest of Iran (East Azarbaijan province) is described here and illustrated by a line-drawing. It is similar to L. comosa Parl. but differs in having violet (not cream) pedicels in the fresh fertile flowers, oblong-campanulate (not oblong-urceolate) fertile flowers, triangular-obovate (not globose-obovate) sterile flowers, dark violet (not beige) fertile flowers and dark violet (not pale violet) sterile flowers with much shorter pedicels. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ruscus hyrcanus is a rich source of medicinally important steroidal saponins. • Genetic structure of Ruscus hyrcanys populations was studied for the first time. • ISSR markers showed a significant difference among the twelve studied populations. • The most genetic diversity was intra-populational (Hs = 0.17). • The populations of RH6 and RH9 showed high pharmaceutical potential for further exploitation. Ruscus hyrcanus Woronow a commercially important ornamental and medicinal plant belonging to the Asparagaceae family, has various applications in Iranian traditional medicine due to its diuretic, appetizing, cathartic, vasoconstrictor, anti-hemorrhage, ant-nephritis, anti-infection, aperient and anti-varicose properties. In the present study, morphological, phytochemical and molecular markers were investigated in twelve R. hyrcanus (RH) populations collected from the Hyrcanian ecoregion in the north of Iran. Phytochemical characteristics were remarkably variable among the studied populations, but little morphological variation was observed. The highest contents of ruscogenin and neoruscogenin in the underground parts of the plant were recorded in populations RH9 (Abbasabad 3.41 mg/g DW) and RH6 (Darab Kola 1.44 mg/g DW), respectively. A total of 66 bands were obtained from 11 inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers, 62 (93.94 %) of which were polymorphic. Although the ISSR evaluation indicated an inter-population genetic differentiation (G ST = 0.27), most of the genetic diversity was intra-populational (PPB = 32.26–75.81 %, He = 0.11−0.24, I = 0.17−0.36). A UPGMA cluster analysis of 120 samples of R. hyrcanus was carried out to categorize the studied populations, based on a molecular data matrix calculated with Jaccard's similarity coefficient. A multiple regression analysis of the relationships between the ISSR bands and morphological and phytochemical traits demonstrated that eight ISSR fragments were related to ruscogenin in the plant materials. Several ISSR markers showed association with some morphological traits. This study provided the comprehensive preliminary data on morphological, phytochemical, and genetic characteristics of R. hyrcanus populations in order to exploit genetic reserves conservation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruscus hyrcanus Woron., a valuable medicinal plant belongs to the Asparagaceae, is growing in the forests of Hyrcanian ecoregion in northern of Iran. In the present study, molecular authentication of the plant was studied. Four taxa of Ruscus L. along with some species from the genus Danae racemosa and Maianthemum japonicum were selected and the phylogenetic analysis was performed based on cpDNA trn H- psb A spacer. Phytochemical assessment and quantification of two steroid saponins, ruscogenin (RG) and neoruscogenin (NRG) in different plant organs (cladode, stem, rhizome, and root) were also performed by HPLC-PDA analysis. The results of Bayesian analysis revealed that R. hyrcanus and related species R. aculeatus nested in a monophyletic clade as polytomy among the other species of Ruscus and related genus Danae with high statistical support (PP = 1). The HPLC results showed that the highest content (mg/g of dry weight, DW) of RG (1.96) and NRG (0.76) found in the plant rhizome. Cladode, stem, and root of the plant contained 1.15, 0.29, and 0.38 mg/g DW of RG and 0.11, 0.006, and 0.69 mg/g DW of NRG, respectively. These findings can be considered in in situ and ex situ conservation, domestication, breeding, and commercial exploitation programs of this valuable medicinal plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]