Hedysarum persicum Bidarlord, F. Ghahrem. & V. Mozaff., 2015

Bidarlord, Mahmoud, Ghahremaninejad, Farrokh & Mozafarian, Valiolla, 2015, Hedysarum persicum (Hedysareae, Leguminosae), a new species from Talesh Mountains, Iran, Phytotaxa 234 (3), pp. 294-298 : 295-297

Hedysarum persicum Bidarlord, F. Ghahrem. & V. Mozaff. , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 ).

Hedysarum persicum is more closely related to species H. cappadocicum . This new species differs in having leaves with 1–2 pairs, obovate-elliptic leaflet, stipules smooth, white or milky with green midrib, scapes with 3–5(–6) cm long. Calyx 11–15 mm long; teeth 5–7 times as long as tube, and ovary with long hairs in ventral part.

Type:— IRAN. Ardabil province: 50 km South Khalkhal, Aq-Dagh protected area, between Miyanroodan and Susahab villages, Aq-Dagh Mountain, 2850 m a.s.l., 37° 26′N, 48° 33′E, 03 July 2014, Bidarlord 15882 (holotype: T, isotype: FAR, TARI).

Perennial plant, up to 9 cm tall, densely covered with appressed silvery hairs (spreading in scapes). Rootstock up to 20 cm long and 10 mm thick. Caudex up to 20 mm long, with thin branches. Stems absent or very short covered with remnants of old stipules and petioles, forming a single or a few rosettes of leaves. Stipules 4–7 mm, smooth,white or milky with green midrib, three quarter length connate, lanceolate-acuminate, densely covered with appressed dense white hairs. Leaves 2–4 (5) cm long, imparipinnate, with 1–2 pairs of leaflets; leaflets relatively uniform, varying from 6× 5 mm to 13× 7 mm, obovate-elliptic, densely appressed silvery-hairy on both surfaces; Petioles 1–2.5 cm long, with adpressed and longer ascending or spreading hairs. Inflorescence capitate or an elongated raceme, with 2–3 cm long and 5–13 flowered; Peduncle procumbent-ascending, 3–5 (6) cm, longer than leaves, sub densely adpressed and longer ascending or spreading hairs, hairs to 1 mm long. Bracts 1 ca. 7–10 mm long, linear-lanceolate, membranous. Pedicels 1–2 mm long, hairy, the upper flowers often without pedicel; flowers erect to spreading; Bracteoles 2 ca. 5–7 mm long, linear, subulate, and shorter than the calyx. Calyx campanulate, 11–15 mm long, red-purplish; teeth subequal, linear-lanceolate to subulate, with spreading plumose up to 2 mm long, teeth 5–7 times as long as tube. Corolla rose, in the dry state pink and violet, longer than calyx; standard 12–16 mm long, blade 7–9 mm wide, obovate, emarginatedat the apex, gradually attenuate to the base. Wings shorter than the standard and keel, 6–7 mm long, rounded at apex; blades 5× 3 mm; auricle ca. 1–1.5 mm long, claw ca. 2 mm long. Keel 11–15 mm long, more or less equaling the standard; blades subtriangular, subacute at the apex, 8–10 mm; auricle distinct, claw 3–5 mm long. Stamina tube obliquely cut. Ovary sessile, narrowly oblong, 5–6 long, with long hairs in ventral part; style up to 12 mm, filiform, pilosa. Lomentum with 3-segments, densely short appressed hairs, rugose.

Distribution and ecology:— Hedysarum persicum grows on the windy site, and stony and scree grounds in the alpine zone, at an elevation of 2850–2900 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 3 ). Some important endemic species are associated with such species as Astragalus andabilensis Ranjbar & Mahmoudian (2013:118) , A. khadem-kandicus Maassoumi & Podlech (2003: 326) , and Dracocephalum kotschyi Boissier (1846: 53) .

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the geographical area where the new species was collected from.

Phenology: —Flowering late June–early July, fruiting July.

Taxonomic relationships:— H.persicum according to its morphological characters belongs to subsect. Subacaulia . It is morphologically similar to species H. cappadocicum in stems absent or very short, leaves entirely basal and with dense sericeous indumentum on both surfaces, and lomentum with 3 segments, canescent. But, H. cappadocicum differs from H. persicum in having leaves with 3–5 pairs, ovate-elliptic leaflet, stipules white brown and scarious, scapes with 5–14 cm long, calyx 15–17 mm long teeth up to 5 times longer than tube, corolla more or less as long as calyx, and ovary glabrous with a few short hairs. This species grows in Turkey ( TABLE 1).

Conservation status:— H.persicum is known only from one sub-population(criterion B2a), the extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are less than 10 km 2 (criterion B1–B2). It is also estimated that the total number of individuals of this endemic species does not exceed 100–150 in its locality (criteria C). In addition, human activities especially road building and overgrazing are threatening this species. Therefore, according to the IUCN (2014) Red List categories and criteria, we suggest that H. persicum should be evaluated as critically endangered (CR).

Perspective: — In future research, the authors will add cytological, anatomical, and molecular data to confirm their finding.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habit of Hedysarum persicum A. in the field, and B. in the dry state. Photos by M. Bidarlord.

FIGURE 2. Hedysarum persicum; A. Leaflet, B. Stipules, C. Calyx, D. Standard, E. Wing, F. Keel, G. Ovary, H. Lomentum, I. Stamina. Photos by M. Bidarlord.

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Hedysarum persicum (●) in Iran.