A REVISION OF SENECIO L. (ASTERACEAE, SENECIONEAE), IN IRAN E. Lotfi, M. Yousofi & M. Assadi Received 20 02 2010. Accepted for publication 12 05 2010 Lotfi, E., Yousofi, M. & Assadi, M. 2010 06 30: A revision of Senecio L. (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), in Iran. -Iran. J. Bot. 16 (1): 96-106. Tehran. The genus Senecio L. is reviewed based on the literature and available herbarium materials. A synopsis and identification key is provided to the 22 accepted taxa. Diversity centers and distribution maps of Senecio species in Iran are presented. Also the checklist of accepted species and synonyms including selected studied specimens are given. Furthermore, Senecio erucifolius subsp. erucifolius which has been collected from Azerbaijan province is reported as a new subspecies to Iran. This subspecies is compared with closely related subspecies S. erucifolius subsp. grandidentatus. Elahe Lotfi (correspondence), Science Faculty, Payame Noor University, Najaf Abad Center, Najaf Abad. – Mehdi Yousefi, Payam Noor University of Isfahan, Department of Biology, P. O. Box 81395-671, Ashrafi Isfahani Blvd., Isfahan, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]. Mostafa Assadi, Department of Botany, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran. Key words. Senecio, synopsis, Iran, taxonomy, new record, flora. Senecio L. (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) . . !" . #$ % &' ())*$ +, -.%/ .7 + $ +49 ,$ 22 & .7+45 6 3 . .+ 2 % # 1 Senecio 0' A % @ 2. + .+ 5 ?$$ ;>=. < 0' ; .+ 5 - +) % :$ < %#2' FE2 3 + S. erucifolius subsp. erucifolius+ 5 3 %CD + . 5 +B .+ 2 . +,) S. erucifolius subsp. grandidentatus A I + 5 3 + 5 3 ; . H 5 3 ;G% INTRODUCTION Senecio Sect. Quadridentati Boiss. to the genus The first author has been revising the tribe Senecioneae Iranecio. Also Pelser et al. (2006) and Nordenstam in Iran for her M. S. thesis and also draft of Flora of (2006) based on molecular systematic studies and Iran (Assadi 1989). Senecio L. (Asteraceae, Pelser et al. (2007) based on ITS phylogeny studies Senecioneae) is the largest genus of Asteraceae in the regarded the section Jacobaea (Mill.) Dumort. as a world with about 1500 species and with worldwide distinct genus, but as the circumscription of these distribution (Matthews 1975). The species are groups are not quite clear and it has not been stabilized distributed all over the world, especially in South yet, in this paper only the genus Senecio sensu Africa, Mediterranean floristic region and in temperate Nordenstam (1989) has been subject of studies and the areas of Asia and America (Schischkin 1961). genus Jacobaea Mill. is included in the genus Senecio. Nordenstam (1989) transferred some species of Senecio Phytogeographically, the majority of the species of into the genus Iranecio B. Nord. and introduced 4 Senecio are found in Irano-Turanian region, a few sections and 17 taxa including species and subspecies species are found in Saharo-Sindian region and one of this genus in Iran. The genus Senecio after species is found in Hyrcanian province of Euro- Nordenstam (1989) draft of Flora Iranica has been Siberian region. Some species of this genus have a subject of several studies, partly circumscription of the limited distribution in Iran and grow individually or in genus have been changed. Jeffrey (1992) based on the small isolated patches. These species are usually anatomy character transferred species that belonged to very rare or can be endangered. But some species, such 97 Senecio in Iran IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 16 (1), 2010 Table 1. Comparison of the number of species and endemics of Senecio L. in Iran and some neighboring countries. Country No. of species No. of endemics Iran 21 6 Iraq 6 - Turkey 42 15 Turkmenistan 3 - Pakistan 7 - Afghanistan 8 - Armenia 2 - as S. glaucus L., S. vulgaris L. and S. vernalis Waldst Some studied specimens: Azerbaijan, Mianeh to & Kit. (sect. Senecio), have widespread distribution in Tabriz, 1000 m, Sabeti 5606 (TARI); Tehran, 16 km the country. Gazvin to Alamot, 2000-2300 m, Assadi & Maassoumi The aim of this paper is to revise the taxonomy of 50943 (TARI); Hamedan; Kabodar Ahang, 2200-2800 the genus in Iran, to present an identification key to the m, Mozaffarian 64565 (TARI); Isfahan; Booien dareh known taxa to Iran, and to give the sequence of the to Khalat, 2600 m, Feyzi, Saeidfar & Eftekhari 6304. species and to report a new record of Senecio for Iran. Map 1. Typical characters: Base of stem woolly. Involucral MATERIAL AND METHODS bracts 14-18 in number. By using existing Floras about 700 herbarium 2. S. doriiformis subsp. orientalis (Fenzl) Matthews, specimens in the herbarium of Research Institute of Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb. 33: 434 (1975). Forests and Rangelands (TARI), herbarium of Iranian Syn.: S. doriaeformis DC. var. megalophron Boiss., Fl. Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRAN), Or. 3: 407 (1875). herbarium of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Type: Turkey. (FUMH), herbarium of Research Center of Natural Studied specimens: Kurdestan, between Nusud and Resources of Isfahan, herbarium of Tarbiat Moallem Marivan, 2000 m, Mazaffarian 74827 (TARI); University (FAR) and herbarium of Department of Kermanshah, Paveh, Shaho mountain, 1300-2000 m, Biology of Isfahan University were examined and were Tavakoli & Mirabdali 2900 (TARI). Map 1. determined (taxonomically and morphologically). Typical characters: Base of stem woolly. Involucral bracts 12- 13 in number. RESULTS 3. S. racemosus (M.B.) DC., Prodr. 6: 338 (1838). In this paper the number of Senecio taxa increasing to Type: Caucasus. Studied specimen: Azerbaijan, 5 km Ardebil to Astara, 22, among them 6 species are endemic to Iran. The 1300 m, Assadi & Akhani 61640 (TARI). Map 2. number of species and endemics of this genus in Iran Typical character: Synflorescence racemeose. and other neighboring countries are compared in table 4. S. thyrsophorus C. Koch, Linnaea 24: 362 (1851). 1. The name of three species are excluded from the list Type: Caucasus. of flora of Iran. Studied specimens: Azerbaijan, 3o km Tabriz, Eskandar village, Eskandar mountain, 1700-2100 m, Checklist of Senecio L. species Mozaffarian & Mohammadi 37563 (TARI); Kurdestan, Sect. Crociseris (Reichenb.) Hall & Wohlf. in W. D. 40 km Divan dareh to Sagez, 2100 m, Mozaffarian Koch, Syn. Deut. Schweiz. Fl. ed. 3: 1486 (1897). 77155 (TARI). Map 2. Syn.: Senecio L. sect. Crociserides DC., Prodr. 6: 357 Typical character: Synflorescence paniculate. (1838). Note: In Flora Iranica (Nordenstan 1989) in agreement Plants perennial. Leaves oblanceolate or lanceolate, with Matthews (1975) S. thyrsophorus were regarded entire or pinnatifid. Capitula radiate or only with as synonymous of S. racemosus, but in this tubular flowers; tubular flowers with 5 teeth. Pappus investigation based on the study of herbarium persistent. specimens the synflorescence seems to be a reliable 1. Senecio pseudo-orientalis Schischk., Fl. URSS. 26: character for distinction of these two species. 727 (1961). 5. S. paulsenii subsp. khorasanicus (Rech. f. & Aell.) Syn.: S. orientalis Willd., Spec. Plant. 3: 2006 (1803) B. Nord., Flora Iranica 164: 68 (1989). non Miller (1768). Syn.: S. khorasanicus Rech.f. & Aell., Osterr. Bot. Type: Armenia. Zeitschr. 97: 236 (1950). Type: Iran: Khorasan. IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 16 (1), 2010 Lotfi, Yousofi & Assadi 98 Some studied specimens: Azerbaijan, Tabriz to Moshk Some studied specimens: Azerbaijan, Marand, Misho anbar, 1770 m, Mozaffarian 87147 (TARI); Tehran, dagh mountain, 2000 m, Assadi 78964 (TARI); 20 Km Gazvin, Abegarm, 1974 m, Mozaffarian 87302(TARI); South Ahar to Tabriz, 1700-1800 m, Wendelbo & Semnan, between Semnan and Firuz kuh, 2450 m, Assadi 27923 (TARI). Map 5. Wendelbo & Assadi 29768 (TARI); Khorasan, E. Typical character: Achenes pubescent. Esfarayen, Sarigol National Park, Kalate Narimani, 10. S. lorentii Hochst. in Lorent, Wanderungen, 330 1746 m, Joharchi & Zangoii 39828 (FUMH). Map 3. (1845) et in Flora 28: 27 (1845). Typical characters: Plant sparsely arachnoid, Syn.: Iranecio lorentii (Hochst.) C. Jeffrey, Kew Bull. arachnoid-floccose to subglabrous. Phyllaries 15-22, 47 (1): 103 (1992). 11-15 × 1.5-3 mm. Limb of ray flowers 12-25 mm Type: Turkey. long. Tube of ray flowers 6-10 mm long. Disk flowers No specimen was found among the herbarium 35-60 in nunber and 10-15 mm long. specimens. It has been recorded from Kurdestan 6. S. joharchii F. Ghahremaninjad, Ezazi, Rahchamani province without exact locality (cf. Nordenstam 1989). & Attar, Feddes Repert. 121(1-2): 27-31 (2010). Map 5. Type: Iran: Khorasan. Endemic. Typical character: Achenes glabrous. Studied specimen: Northern Khorasan, Esfarayen, Sect. Jacobaea (Mill.) Dumort., Fl. Belg. 65 (1827). Saluk National Park, Mt. Ahangaran, 1861 m, Ezazi & Syn.: Jacobaea Mill., Gard. Dict. Abr. ed. 4 (1754). Rahchamani 4692 (FAR). Rare. Map 3. Plants perennial. Leaves obovate or oblanceolate, Typical characters: Plant densely arachnoid floccose. pinnatifid or pinnatisect. Capitula radiate; tubular Phyllaries 32-35, 9-10 × 0.8-1 mm. Limb of ray flowers 5 dentate. Pappus persistent or temporary. flowers 6-7 mm long. Tube of ray flowers 2 mm long. 11. S. mollis Willd., Sp. Pl. 3: 2011 (1803). Disk flowers ca. 80 in number and 3-5 mm long. Syn.: S. hebespermus DC., Prodr. 7: 301 (1838); Sect. Quadridentati Boiss., Fl. Or. 3: 385 (1875). Jacobaea mollis (Willd.) B. Nord., Comp. Newslet. 44: Plants perennial. Leaves obovate or lyrate, 12 (2006). pinnatipartite or pinnatisect. Capitula radiate; tubular Type: Anatolia. flowers 4 dentate.