TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE GENUS SALICORNIA L. (CHENOPODIACEAE) IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IRAN

Salicornia is a most complicated vascular plant group which its taxonomy and species circumscription is considered as a night-mare. This first revision of Iranian species is based on long-term field studies, co-cultivation of plants in the laboratory, ecological, cytological and molecular studies and determination of carbon isotope composition. In this paper the species of Central and Southern Iran are dealt with which will be followed by another paper on the Northern and Northwestern parts of Iran. In this paper the presence of four species, one subspecies and one putative hybrid in the area is accepted. In addition to recently described S. persica Akhani from Central Iran, four more new taxa and one new putative hybrid are described for science: (1) S. iranica Akhani spec. nov. is a diploid species widespread in central Iranian salines. This is characterized by erect habit and short opposite upper spikes; (2) S. sinus-persica Akhani spec. nov. is described from Southern Iran in Khuzestan, Bushehr and Hormozgan Provinces along the saline and brackish rivers running to the Persian Gulf and estuaries and coastal habitats. This is a diploid species characterized by yellowish colour and ascending to loosely prostrate and much branched habit; (3) S. perspolitana Akhani spec. nov. is related to S. persica which is described from South-Central Iranian salines around Tashk and Bakhtegan hypersaline lakes. This is a prostrate plant with leaf-like bracts, a character which is known for the first time in the genus Salicornia; (4) S. persica subsp. rudshurensis Akhani is a taxon found in North-Central Iran in Tehran province which differs from typical subspecies by slender spikes and obtuse central flowers; and (5) S. x tashkensis Akhani hybrid nov. is a putative hybrid found only in Tashk lake in South-Central Iran. The elongate and pendant fruiting spikes and absence of seeds in most flowers is distinctive in this taxon. The carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of most species are given and the chromosome numbers (so far investigated) are reported. The ecology, threats and biogeographical importance of the species are discussed and photographs of living plants are provided. An identification key to the known species of Iranian Salicornia is given.