Rhamnus cathartica Linnaeus var. cathartica

Alijanpoor, Behnaz, Khodayari, Hamed, Assadi, Mostafa, Rahiminejad, Mohammadreza & Mehregan, Iraj, 2021, A taxonomic revision of Rhamnus L. and Atadinus Raf. (Rhamnaceae) in Iran, Phytotaxa 521 (3), pp. 127-158 : 131

Rhamnus cathartica Linnaeus var. cathartica

Description— Young branches pubescent with ovate, obovate or orbicular leaves.

Habitat and distribution — The variety is an Euro-Siberian element of Gilan, Golestan and Mazandaran Provinces of N Iran. It grows at an altitude of 2260–2400 m, between 33° and 36° N and between 49° and 54° E. The species occurs on slopes EW, S, E of rocky–pasture, heights of vallies and in forests or shrublands .

Discussion —There is a high diversity in morphological characters, such as ovate or obovate to elliptic, orbicular or lanceolate leaves. A specimen of R. cathartica var. cathartica in the Calishum population was 50 cm high and spreading on rocks with many spines (while they are trees or shrubs, erect in forests, 2-4 m high, or rarely 1.5 m high with a few spines).

Note — R. cathartica var. cathartica , is a cosmopolitan species which grows in Iran and other countries almost up to 800 m, but in Slovakia and in the Ukranie they are reported to grow at an altitude 200–330 m.

Examined specimens— IRAN. Gilan: From Manjil towards Lowshan, Jirindih road, Calishum village , Eastern- Westerrn Southern slopes, rocky-pasture land habitat, 49°57ʹ46ʺ E, 36°45ʹ51ʺ N, 2260 m, 20 August 2017, Alijanpoor & Jalili s.n. ( TARI 103805 !) ; Golestan: From Gorgan towards Jelin village, Gorgan-Shahrud road, towards Chahar Bagh , Eastern and Western slopes, in vally of shrubby habitat, 54°33ʹ39ʺ E, 36°40ʹ00ʺ N, 2350 m, 26 May 2017, Alijanpoo & Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103859 , 103860 !) ; Mazandaran: From Firuzkouh towards Pol Sefid, Sang Deh village , after Fagus forest ( Mer SiSi ), forest shruby habitat, 53°13ʹ06ʺ E, 36°00ʹ51ʺ N, 2400 m, 27 September 2017, Alijanpoor & Mohamady s.n. ( TARI 103855 !) ; ARMENIA. Abovian: versus ad meridiem a vico Gami in valle fluminis, 1200–1500 m, 03 August 1974, V . Vasak s.n. ( G 1318117 !) ; AUSTRIA. Niederösterreich: Hainburger Berge, Wegrand bei Deutsch-Altenburg. , 18 May 1964, G . Schlatte s.n ( W 0005567 !); Gegamski; khrebet, Aborian , inter monasterim Gehard et Gokht , 1700-1800 m s.n., 20 July1975, V . Vasak s.n. ( G 335975 !) ; GREECE. Flora Hellenica , by NE shore of Lake Mikri Prespa. wet meadows, 40°48′ E, 21°07′ N, 855 m, 18 May 2009, Strid s.n. ( G 56808!) ; HUNGARY. Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen: NE , Miskolc, Bukk Mts., Omassa settl., Kerek hegy, 48°06′01ʺ E, 20°31′01ʺ N, 820–825 m a. s. l., 17 October 2010, Mikolas V . s.n. ( W 0008907 !); NE Miskolc, Bükk Mts., Omassa settl., Kerek hegy, 48°06ʹ01” E, 20°31ʹ01” N, 820–825 m a. s. l., 17 October 2010, V . Mikolas s.n. ( W 0008907 !); ASIA CENTRALIS , KAZAKHSTAN. Tian-shan montes: Zailijski Alatau, Alma-Ata , in valle fluminis, Malaia Almalinka , Modeo , 1400–1700 m, 30 May 1974, V . Vasak. s.n. ( G 145232 !); Tian-shan montes – Zailijski Alatau, 1400–1750 m s. m, V . Vasak s.n. ( G 163487 !); Ugamski khrebet, in vicinitate pagi Sidzhak , rivulum Navale-Sai , 800–1100 m s. m, 25 July 1973, V . Vasak s.n. ( G 158686 !); ORETA SERELA . SERBIA: in quercetis montim inter Bala Palanka et Pirot, substr, calc., ca. 600–800 m, 14 June 1955, K. H . Rechinger , 15847 s.n. ( G 00081528 !) ; SLOVAKIA. Kosice Region: central Hornad valley, Kysak village , 1.5 km SE, on W slopes, ca. 320–330 m a. s. l., 20 June 1995 Mikolas V s.n. ( W 0009198 !); Kosice Region, Slovak karst, Turna nad Bodvou , climbing by footpath ( Hradna stran) on range W of Turniansky hradny vrch hill, ca. 240 m a. s. l., 18 Septemper 2011, V . Mikolas s.n. ( W 0011497 !); Kosice, NW Botanical Garden of P. J . Safarik University , SE part, ca. 220 m a. s. l., 11 June 1986, V . Mikolas s.n. ( W 0011309 !); Kosice , South, above crossroad of Borovska with Kukucínova str., Kukucinova str., S side, spont. 214 m a. s. l, 26 July 2008, V . Mikolas. s.n. ( W 0007764 !) ; TURKEY. A5 Sasun: Ladik, 900 m. 20 August 1978, Yildirimli s.n. ( G 263145 !); UCRAINE. Borishtchivski, prope vicum, Bziv , 200 m, 30 June 1973, V . Vasak s.n. ( G 145231 !) .