Nordic Journal of Botany 35: 580–583, 2017 doi: 10.1111/njb.01420, ISSN 1756-1051 © 2017 Th e Authors. Nordic Journal of Botany © 2017 Nordic Society Oikos Subject Editor: Panayiotis Trigas. Editor-in-Chief: Torbj ö rn Tyler. Accepted 26 April 2017 Jurinea khorassanica sp. nov. (J. sect. Stechmannia, Asteraceae) from Iran Mansour Mirtadzadini and Mohammad Reza Joharchi M. Mirtadzadini (http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1101-3344) ([email protected]), Dept of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Bahonar Univ. of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. – M. R. Joharchi, Dept of Botany, Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi Univ. of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. Jurinea khorassanica from northeast Iran is described as a new species. Based on morphological characters it belongs to Jurinea sect. Stechmannia and its closest related taxa are the sympatric J. catharinae and J. dumulosa . However, the new species is obviously diff erent from related species with respect to leaf, stem and head features. A detailed description, diagnostic table, illustrations and an updated key to the species of J . sect. Stechmannia in Iran are provided. Th e genus Jurinea Cass. (Asteraceae, Cardueae) was Material and methods described by Cassini (1819) based on two species transferred from Serratula L. Jurinea comprises perennial herbs or As a result of a fl oristic study near Tshelpow village in rarely shrubs with purple, pink, red or whitish fl orets. Th e Khorassan (northeast Iran), an unknown and morphologi- involucre consists of linear to lanceolate phyllaries. Th e cally distinct specimen of the genus Jurinea was collected, achenes are tetragonal with a distal corona around their but agreeing with the features defi ning J . sect. Stechmannia . apexes. Th e pappus is developed as feathery or bristle-like Afterwards, a fi eld study was carried out in order to locate appendices (Ko ž uharov 1976, Rechinger and Wagenitz the population of the new species and to collect more and 1979). According to Susanna and Garcia-Jacas (2009), this complete specimens. Th e collected specimens resembled genus is closely related to Saussurea DC. and these two gen- J. dumulosa and J. catharinae from Iran, and they also had era form a complex group with unclear boundaries between some morphological similarities to J. lidiae Iljin, which is dis- the genera. Th ey express a large range of morphological tributed on Kopetdagh Mountains in south Turkmenistan. characters, especially for achene and pappus traits (Susanna Th e collected specimens were compared with all relevant and Garcia-Jacas 2009). resources, especially ‘ Flora Iranica ’ (Rechinger and Wagenitz Rechinger and Wagenitz (1979) recorded 37 Jurinea 1979), ‘ Flora of the USSR ’ (Iljin 1962) and the taxonomic species belonging to eight sections from the ‘ Flora Iranica ’ revision of the genus Jurinea in Iran (Mirtadzadini 2011). area, and 25 of them are distributed in Iran. Th ree more Th ey were also morphologically compared with specimens species have subsequently been described from Iran, increas- of probable relevant species of J . sect. Stechmannia kept in ing the number of Jurinea species known from Iran to 28 G, W, TUH, FUMH and MIR herbaria. Eventually, we con- (Mirtadzadini 2011, Mirtadzadini et al. 2011). In this study, cluded that the plants from Khorassan (northeast Iran) are the authors introduce the 29th species of Jurinea for the distinct from all known species of J . sect. Stechmannia and fl ora of Iran. Th is is the eighth species of J . sect. Stechmannia they are described here as a new species. (DC.) Boiss. in Iran. Formerly, seven other species, namely J. antonowii C. Winkl., J. catharinae Iljin, J. dumulosa Jurinea khorassanica Joharchi & Mirtadzadini sp. Boiss., J. eriobasis DC., J. gabrielae Bornm., J. ramosissima nov. (Fig. 1 – 3) DC. and J. stenocalathia Rech. f. has been reported for this section from Iran (Akhani 1996, Mirtadzadini 2011). Diff ers from both J. dumulosa and J. catharinae in stem Jurinea sect. Stechmannia includes shrubby or semi-shrubby diameter (2 – 3 vs 1 – 2 mm); leaves herbaceous-fl eshy plants, with linear or narrowly elliptic leaves and more (vs herbaceous-leathery) and median leaves 10 – 20 ϫ 50 – 90 or less spiny involucral bracts (Iljin 1962, Mirtadzadini (vs 2 – 7 ϫ 20 – 60 mm). Additional diff erences are presented 2011). in Table 1. 580 Figure 3. Jurinea khorassanica sp. nov., holotype (FUMH 45205) . Type : Iran, Khorassan, between Kashmar and Neishabur, southwest of Tshelpow village, northern slopes of Zernich mountain, 2200 m a.s.l., 17 Jul 2014, Joharchi 45205 (holotype: FUMH, isotype: MIR). Etymology Th e specifi c epithet corresponds to the type locality in Khorassan area (northeast Iran). Figure 1. Jurinea khorassanica sp. nov., phyllaries, achene and fl oret. Description Drawn from the holotype FUMH-45205 by M. Mirtadzadini. Perennial semi-shrub; many-branched, light green, 15 – 30 cm high. Caudex more or less woody, covered with remnants of dried old petioles and cottony angles. Stems divaricately branched, strait or slightly fl exuose at the nodes, glabrous, light green, with longitudinal prominent pale green ribs. Leaves light green, semi-fl eshy, glabrous; basal leaves oblan- ceolate, 5.0 – 8.0 ϫ 0.8 – 1.5 cm, acute or sub obtuse at the tip, gradually narrowed into a three-angled petiole ca 1 cm long; median leaves oblong-lanceolate, sessile, 5 – 9 ϫ 1 – 2 cm, gradually diminishing in size towards apex. Involucre ovoid, Ϯ 20 mm long, 15 – 22 mm wide including involucral bracts, 9 – 14 mm wide excluding bract protrusions; involucral bracts (phyllaries) 65 – 75; outer bracts more or less recurved- defl exed, narrowly ovoid, ca 8.0 – 10.0 ϫ 2.5 mm, acuminate, green, glabrous or pilose at the tip; median bracts oblong- lanceolate, recurved, ca 12.0 – 20.0 ϫ 2.5 mm, pubescent on outer surface, greenish but terminating to a purplish part; inner bracts straight, linear, acuminate, purple above, glabrous on both surfaces but often ciliolate on margin; Figure 2. Jurinea khorassanica sp. nov., (FUMH 45205) in nature. innermost bracts linear-lanceolate, 16.0 – 18.0 ϫ 1.0 – 1.5 mm 581 Table 1. Morphological differences of Jurinea khorassanica sp. nov., J. catharinae and J. dumulosa. Character J. khorassanica J. catharinae J. dumulosa Plant height (cm) 15 – 30 12 – 25 10 – 22 Stem 2 – 3 mm in diameter, 1.5 – 2.0 mm in diameter, 1.0 – 1.5 mm in diameter, straight and divided fl exuose and simple fl exuose and divided Indumentum absent existing absent Length of med. leaves (cm) 5 – 92 – 62 – 6 Width of med. leaves (mm) 10 – 20 3 – 72 – 5 Leaf texture semi-fl eshy herbaceo-coriaceous herbaceo-coriaceous Shape of involucre ovoid ovoid ovoid-cylindrical Diameter of involucre (mm) 15 – 22 15 – 22 13 – 18 wide, pale green. Receptacle scaly; scales smooth. Flow- or less thick caudex. In this area only two microphanero- ers 25 – 30; corolla pink, glandular, 20 – 24 mm long, with phytes exist, namely Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A. tube ca 10 mm long, blade ca 12 mm long and lobes 3.5 Mey, which is a leafl ess plant with green photosynthetic mm long. Ovary ovoid, ca 1.7 ϫ 1.2 mm. Achene narrowly stems and Zygophyllum eurypterum Boiss. & Buhse, which obpyramidal or obpyramidal-oblong, ca 7.0 – 8.0 ϫ 2.5 mm, tolerates drought periods due to its small and more or less more or less smooth, with longitudinal ribs, shiny and whit- succulent leaves. ish with toothed corona; teeth triangular, ca 0.4 mm long; pappophorous dome-shaped. Pappus plumose, light golden, Conservation status bristles recurved, connate into a ring, the two inner bristles Jurinea khorassanica was observed only in a small patch ca 17 mm long and the peripherals 7 – 9 mm long. in the area, so this is probably the only population of this species. Th e area has tolerated dry periods with very low Phenology precipitation in recent years. In addition to the drought, Flowering in May and June, fruiting in July and August. Th e livestock traffi c and overgrazing pose serious threats to the leaves remain alive on stems until the end of November. long term survival of the species. Although this species is not a desired range plant, it is preferred by herbivore animals Ecology in comparison to most plant species in the area. Accord- Th e distribution area of J. khorassanica is part of the central ing to fi eld observations, the heads of many individuals mountains of the Iranian plateau, with few rocky and stony were infected by parasites and parasitoid fl ies and wasps. slopes. Th is form of land has caused salt leaching from the In this condition, plants cannot yield complete and healthy soil and thus provided a tolerable bed for plants. Th e geo- achenes. In addition, an active orpiment mine is located in logical structure of this area is mainly comprised of colored this area. Due to climatic, edaphic and biological limitations marl with a tuff base and sandstone. Th e soil is reddish or and also environmental degradation caused by man, protec- yellowish and composed of silt and clay with a small amount tion of this species is of great importance. It seems that ex of sand and gravels. Based on chemical analysis, the soil is situ conservation in a seed bank is the easiest and the most rich in arsenic and sulfur, the latter used as orpiment min- reliable way to protect J. khorassanica . eral (Parvaresh et al. 2008). Th ese conditions result in the reduction of plant growth. Similar species Th e climate of the area is severe. Th e average annual Jurinea khorassanica is related to the sympatric J. dumulosa rainfall is as low as about 180 mm (Parvaresh et al.