Agropyron desertorum Schultes (1824: 412)

Memariani, Farshid, Joharchi, Mohammad Reza & Akhani, Hossein, 2016, Plant diversity of Ghorkhod Protected Area, NE Iran, Phytotaxa 249 (1), pp. 118-158 : 122

Agropyron desertorum Schultes (1824: 412) . Figure 2c–d

Material examined. IRAN. Southern part of GPA: 1–2 km on the bifurcation road towards Ternuli, on southern loess foothills below the scattered Juniperus woodland, 37°23ʹ28ʺ N, 56°26ʹ27ʺ E, 1550–1650 m, 08.06.2011, Memariani & Arjmandi 44367 ( FUMH, Hb. Akhani) ; Southeastern border of GPA: 9 km from Chaman Bid on the road towards Jowzak, 37°26ʹ09ʺ N, 56°39ʹ10ʺ E, 1290–1350 m, 20.07.2010, Memariani & Arjmandi 44144 ( FUMH). Localities outside GPA: N Esfarayen: 30 km on the road towards Bojnurd, Pelmis pass, 37°14ʹ41ʺ N, 57°22ʹ09ʺ E, 1870 m, 29.09.2008, Memariani & Zangooei 41509 ( FUMH) ; N Esfarayen : on the road towards Bojnurd, on bifurcation road towards Shiruyeh, 37°14ʹ53ʺ N, 57°21ʹ45ʺ E, 1945 m, 16.06.2008, Joharchi & Zangooei 40872 ( FUMH) .

Agropyrum desertorum has been cultivated as a forage crop in Iran ( Jafari et al. 2007, Asghari et al. 2011). We are not sure whether populations in the area are native or might have been naturalized from cultivated stands. The species was found in Ghorkhod, Salook and Aladagh Mountain ranges of North Khorassan Province. It can be easily distinguished from common A. cristatum ( Linnaeus 1753: 78) Gaertner (1770: 540) by its long linear (not oblongovoid) spikes and oblique (not pectinate) spikelets.

Agropyrum desertorum is widely distributed in desert and mountain steppes of W Siberia, the Middle Asia, Aralo-Caspian, W Pakistan, Caucasia and E Europe ( Nevski 1934; Bor 1970) and introduced into North America.

Figures

FIGURE 2. New plant records in their habitats; a–b: Allium transvestiens on gypsum foothills, c–d: Agropyron desertorum on disturbed slopes, e: Helictotrichon turcomanicum in high mountain steppes, f–g: Piptatherum latifolium in Paliurus spina-christi scrubs.