Satureja isophylla Rech.f., 1978

Bordbar, Firouzeh & Mirtadzadini, Mansour, 2024, A morphological re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of Satureja L. (Lamiaceae, Nepetoideae, Mentheae) from flora of Iran, Adansonia (3) 46 (7), pp. 45-63 : 53

Satureja isophylla Rech.f.

( Fig. 1 L-M)

Plant Systematics and Evolution 133: 107 ( Rechinger 1979) . — Type: Iran. N Persia, Prov. Mazanderan, Firuzabad in ditione fl. Chalus ; alt. 1000-2000 m; 12-16.X.1956; F. Schmid 6676; holo-, G [ G00435679 , image!]; iso-, W [ W19590022203 , image!]) .

PHENOLOGY. — Flowering August to October, Fruiting October to November.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Endemic species to N of Iran, Mazandaran Province ( Fig. 4D ). Rocky slopes.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Iran • N Iran, Mazandaran Prov., between Tshalus and Karaj , 14 km to Siabishe from Tshalus; 14.VIII.2013; Mirtadzadini 1978 • SW of Nur , 5 km from Poul to Largan village ; 36°23’07.76”N, 51°32’29.4”E; alt. 1420 m; 27.X.2011; Mirtadzadini 1979 ( MIR) • Karaj to Tshalus, 15 km to Marzanabad, 3 km before Macarud; 36°19’11”N, 51°15’5”E; alt. 906 m; 05.X.2014; Mirtadzadini 1973 ( MIR) • 40 km to Tshalus; 15-16.X.1986; Barkhordari 25029 ( IRAN) .

DESCRIPTION

Caespitose, aromatic perennial, 8-15 cm high, stems numerous, slender, covered with short scabrous hairs, internodes short, up to 5 mm. Leaves sessile, linear, lanceolate, oblanceolate or narrow obovate, 3-8(-10) mm long, 1-2 mm wide, attenuate at base, apex acute, rarely obtuse, with white scabrous hairs and sessile glands, floral leaves similar to the stem leaves. Verticillasters terminal, 1-3(- 5-6) flowers in verticillaster, flowers subsessile, pedicel up to 1 mm. Calyx green, campanulate-tubular, covered with short scabrous hairs on outside, 3-4(-5) mm, triangular-subulate, inferior teeth c. 2 mm, superior c. 1.5 mm. Corolla white, 5-8(-10) mm long. Stamens exserted from the tube. Nutlets obovate, brown to dark brown, 1-1.2 mm long, 0.3-0.5 wide.

REMARKS

This species can be distinguished from the other Satureja spp. by its caespitose habit, small leaves and small obovate nutlets. It has also a lemon or Micromeria spp. like fragrance, different from those of the majority species of Satureja .

Figures

FIG. 1. — Habit and close-up of inflorescence of Satureja L. species from flora of Iran: A, B, S. avromanica Maroofi (Mirtadzadini 3029); C, D, S. bachtiarica Bunge (Mirtadzadini & Bordbar 4151); E, S. bachtiarica (Bordbar 1995); F, S. bachtiarica (Bordbar 1944); G, S. longiflora Boiss. & Hausskn. (Mirtadzadini 2031); H, S. longiflora (Bordbar 2032); I, S. longiflora (Advay 4155); J, S. longiflora (Mirtadzadini & Bordbar 4153); K, S. intermedia (Mirtadzadini 1980); L, M, S. isophylla Rech.f. (Mirtadzadini 1978).

FIG. 4. — Distribution map of Satureja L. species in Iran: A, S. bachtiarica Bunge; B, S. avromanica Maroofi (circle), S. hortensis L. (naturally grows) (square); C, S. kermanica Payandeh, Bordbar & Mirtadz. (circle), S. intermedia C.A.Mey. (square); D, S. khuzistanica Jamzad (circle), S. isophylla Rech.f. (square).