A Assadi

A Ghahreman

A R Ghahreman

A R Naqinezhad

Ahmad Ghahreman

Ali Reza Naqinezhd

M Assadi Naqinezhad

CiteSeerX

SOME NEW RECORD SPECIES FOR THE FLORA 
OF IRAN AS WELL AS ECOLOGICAL AND 
PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL NOTES 
 
A. R. Naqinezhad, A. Ghahreman & M. Assadi 
 
Naqinezhad, A. R., Ghahreman, A., & Assadi, M 2005 07 01: Some new 
record species for the flora of Iran as well as ecological and 
phytogeographical notes. -Iran. Journ. Bot. 11 (1): 89-95. Tehran. 
 
Cardamine flexuosa With. (Cruciferae) and Carex orbicularis Boott subsp. 
orbicularis (Cyperaceae) are reported for the first time from Iran in 
Hyrcanian and Irano-Turanian phytochoria respectively. Taxonomical 
problems, ecology and phytogeography of each species are discussed. Also a 
clearer picture of distribution and ecology of Cardamine tenera Gmel. in 
North of Iran is presented.  
 
Ali Reza Naqinezhd & Ahmad Ghahreman, Department of Biology, Faculty 
of Science, Central Herbarium of Tehran University, Tehran, Iran. -Mostafa 
Assadi, Department of Botany, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, 
P. O. Box. 13185-116, Tehran. 
 
Key words. Cardamine flexuosa, Carex orbicularis, New records, Cardamine 
tenera, taxonomical problem, Iran. 
 
 به همراه نكاتي از اكولوژي و پراكنش   تازه و قابل توجه از فلور ايرانهاي ارشگز
  جغرافيايي آنها
   مصطفي اسدي وعليرضا نقي نژاد، احمد قهرمان
Cardamine flexuosa With. از خانواده Cruciferae  وCarex orbicularis Boott 
subsp. orbicularis از  Cyperaceae  براي اولين بار درايران به ترتيب از مناطق هيركاني
اكولوژي، پراكنش . گزارش مي شوند) استان كرمان(توراني -و ايراني) استان مازندران(
همچنين تصوير . جغرافيايي و مشكالت تاگزونومي هر يك از گونه هاي باال بحث مي شود
  . در ايران ارائه مي گردد.Cardamine tenera Gmelتري از پراكنش و اكولوژي واضح
  
 
Naqinezhad & al. IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 11 (1), 2005 90 
INTRODUCTION 
This article has been resulted from part of 
investigations of the first author on the flora 
and vegetation in North of Iran (Naqinezhad, 
2003, Ghahreman, et al. 2003) as well as a 
specielaized study on Cyperaceae family. 
Although some species of Iranian Cardamine 
is easily recognizable, but morphological 
resemblances are so strong that it is sometimes 
difficult to distinguish the annual species such 
as C. hirsuta and C. flexuosa (Ellis & Jones, 
1969). The former species has been previously 
reported from Iran (Hedg, 1968) and the latter, 
C. flexuosa (Cruciferae), is reported now as an 
interesting record for the flora of Iran. Also we 
survey the complex of Carex orbicularis 
Boott. This is a variable species with two 
allopatric western and eastern subspecies 
(Shishkin, 1935; Davis, 1985, Kukkonen, 
1998). Carex orbicularis subsp. orbicularis 
(Cyperaceae) as an eastern subspecies is 
reported as new record for the flora of Iran. 
Also we survey more specimens from 
Cardamine tenera Gmel. and show its 
geographical extension in northern Iran. This 
species had been reported from Iran only based 
on one specimen (Hedge, 1968). 
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Specimens of Cardamine in Iranian herbaria, 
TUH, IRAN, TARI, (abbreviation according to 
Holmgren et al. 1990) were studied. 
Identification of C. flexuosa is relevant to 
comparison of several specimens of this 
species with C. hirsuta. Also with the study of 
specimens of Cyperaceae family in TUH, C. 
orbicularis subsp. orbicularis were 
determined. 
 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Cardamine flexuosa With.  
Materials examined. Iran, Mazandaran 
province, Tunekabon, Nashtarud, 
Khoshkedaran natural national monument, - 20 
m, 15.5.2003, Naqinezhad, 30807-TUH; 
Namak-Abrud, Telekabin forest area, - 20 m, 
14.7.2002, 30808-TUH 
Despite of difffernt position of C. flexuosa and 
C. hirsuta L. in the molecular based clades of  
Franzek, et al., 1998, these two taxa are 
morphologically similar. Although C. hirsuta 
had been previously reported from N, W, S of 
Iran, there is no reports of Cardamine flexuosa 
in Iran until now (Hedge, 1968; Akhani, 2003). 
Distinct morphological, phytogeographical 
differences between two species are presented 
in table 1. 
Habitat. Cardamine flexuosa in contrast to C. 
hirsuta that is considred as a ruderal plant, is a 
forest species, confined to damp shady forests 
with high humus in Europe and newly founded 
places in wet alder (Alnus glutinosa) forests 
over Hyrcanian area. This plant is a pioneer 
characteristic species in Cardamino-Montion 
alliance and Cardaminetum flexuosae 
association in Europe (Hegi, 1986). In Japan, 
this species occurs as a weed in cultivated 
fields such as paddy fields, crop gardens and 
orchards (Kudoh et al. 1993). According to 
TARI’s specimens, C. hirsuta grows on rocky 
limestone slopes with open Quercus forests (in 
Fars) or among the limestone rocks where 
forest recently has been cleared (in 
Mazandaran). 
Phenology. Cardamine  flexuosa , a winter–
green or year-long annual, shows a facultative 
long–day requirement for flowering (Kudoh et 
al. 1995). This species completes its 
reproductive cycle in spring but fresh leaves 
and inflorescence can also be found in autumn 
and winter when it grows with C. hirsuta.  
General distribution. Most of Europe 
widespread in Asia except for Sibiria and the 
Central Asian republics of the Former Soviet 
Union, South and North of Africa, 
Macaronesia, North and South America, also  
IRAN. JOURN. BOT. II ( I ). 2OO5 Nev retttrds n lrtut 9l
Ft2. L Ctnlunit lL \r/,,\,i I . 0.6).
Naqinezhad & al. IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 11 (1), 2005 92 
Table 1. Main morphological differences between Cardamine flexuosa and C. hirsuta . 
Species Stem Basal leaves Petiole Silique Stamen 
C. flexuosa Stem frequently 
flexuous, distally 
at least in the 
raceme 
Few, not in 
a distinct 
rosette 
Not ciliate Erect-patent (or erect on 
ascending pedicels), 
scarcely overtopping 
unopened flowers 
6(-4) 
C. hirsuta Stem straight Many, and 
in a distinct 
rosette 
Ciliate Erect (or pedicels and 
siliques ascending), much 
overtopping unopened 
flowers 
4(-6) 
 
naturalized in Australia. (Maire, 1967; Hilliard 
& Burtt, 1982; Hegi, 1986) 
Taxonomical remarks. Cardamine flexuosa is a 
tetraploid (2n=32) which may have arisen by 
autoploidy or alloploidy. Cardamine hirsuta 
(2n=16) appears to have been closely 
concerned in the evolution of C. flexuosa. 
Morphological resemblances are so strong that 
it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the 
species, especially when only winter rosettes 
are available. Indeed, in the Floras of many 
European countries it is only in the present 
century that the species have been 
distinguished and as recently as 1943 they 
were recombined under C. hirsuta L (Ellis & 
Jones, 1969). 
     It seems that there is a high level of 
variations in C. flexuosa and C. hirsuta in Iran. 
Most of the herbarium specimens such as 
Chahrivar, Mirtae, 12119 (TUH), Gilan, 
Lahijan, - 25 m, Naqinezhad, 21378 (TUH), 
Gilan, Asalem to Khalkhal, 1500-1700 m, 
Termeh & Matin, 14430 (IRAN) and 
Mazandaran, west of Ramsar, 100-200 m, 
Wendelbo & Shirdelpur 15270 (TARI) seems 
to be intermediate states between two latter 
species. These specimens might be different 
intraspecific variation of each species or they 
can be likely considered as interspecific 
hybrids which is common in Cardamine. It is 
noteworthy that the hybrid Cardamine flexuosa 
x hirsuta (C. zahlbrucknerana O. E. Schulz) is 
known from the wild (Ellis & Jones, 1969). It 
was reported by Schulz (1903) as occurring 
naturally in Austria. This hybrid taxon might 
be also present in Iran. This idea needs more 
studies to prove.   
  
Carex orbicularis Boott subsp. orbicularis  
Material examined. Iran: Kerman: Baft, 
Gugher, Bondar, 2880 m, Mirtadzedini, 31982-
TUH. 
 
Carex orbicularis is one of the two-stigmatic 
members of subgen. Carex that is splitted in 
two subspecies in Flora Iranica as named 
subsp. orbicularis and subsp. kotschyana 
(Boiss. & Hohen.) Kukkonen (Kukkonen, 
1998). Subsp. kotschyana that has been 
considered as a separated species by Shishkin 
(1935) in Flora of USSR, has been previously 
reported from N, W, S, C Iran while subsp. 
orbicularis is reported for the first time from 
Iran. Major morphological differences between 
these two subspecies are presented in table 2. 
Habitat. Members of C. orbicularis are 
mountainous and even alpine taxa that 
exclusively occur on wet or marshy meadows 
from 1500 m up to 4300 m. 
Notes on the general distribution. Carex 
orbicularis extends within Irano-Turanian 
region that is divided into eastern part 
demonstrated with subspecies orbicularis. It 
distributes from C, E, NE Afghanistan and 
Pakistan eastward to Nepal and most of C.  
IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 1 (1), 2005 New records to Iran 93 
Table 2. Major morphological and distributional differences between subsp. kotschyana and C. 
orbicularis. subsp. orbicularis. 
Subspecies Spikes Utricle Utricles on the 
rachis 
Global 
distribution 
kotschyana Lax elongated (ellipsoid), gradually 
contracted to beak 
spreading-erect Western 
orbicularis Tight orbicular, abrubtly contracted to 
beak 
spreading Eastern 
 
Asian mountains to 4300 m (Kukkonen, 1998). 
Therefore new-founded place in Iran is 
westernmost record for this taxon up till now. 
In comparison, subspecies kotschyana is a 
rather isolated western taxon within C. 
orbicularis that is confined in NE Iraq, E 
Turkey, Transcaucasus, Iran (Shishkin, 1935; 
Hooper, 1985; Davis, 1985; Kukkonen, 1998). 
According to Kukkonen (1998), easternmost 
record for this subspecies has been reported in 
Shahvar mountains, Semnan (Iran). It seems 
that Iran (S & likely C & NE) is a point that 
these two subspecies meet each other. The 
existence of both taxa in one locality in Iran 
confirm this idea. 
Taxonomical remarks. The morphological 
distinction between subsp. kotschyana and 
subsp. orbicularis is not always clear and 
transitional forms also occur (Davis, 1985; 
Kukkonen,1998). For example plants with 
more or less tight spikes and orbicular utricles 
occur in Iran and plants with relative lax spikes 
and elongated utricles are found in 
Afghanistan (Kukkonen, 1998). This diversity 
is recognized even in one locality such as 
plants that has been collected in Dizin area 
(Tehran) by Mr. Dehshiri (pers. comm.) or 
some specimens collected by the first author in 
Mazandaran (Alam-Kuh, Naqinezhad- 34502-
TUH). These specimens represent a wide 
morphological range from subsp. kotschyana 
to subsp. orbicularis . It is interesting that 
subsp. kotschyana itself, is rather variable in 
Anatolia being represented on each of the 
different mountains on which it occurs by a 
more or less distict variant, peculiar to that 
mountain (Davis, 1985).   
 
A small note on Cardamine tenera Gmel. 
C. tenera is a perennial Cardamine with large 
flowers, easily recognizable from C. flexuosa 
and C. hirsuta. Similar to C. flexuosa, this 
species is a humid forest plant. Cardamine 
tenera is a tertiary relict and confined as an 
Euxino-Hyrcanian element in Caucasus and 
North of Iran (Schishkin, 1935; Hedge, 1968). 
Hedge (1968) reported this species only from a 
no-numbered specimen from Gilan, Pir Bazar 
collected by Pichler.  Personal investigation 
and studies on specimens of TUH & IRAN 
herbaria demonestarte that this species occurs 
in damp shady forests of Alnus glutinosa and 
Buxus hyrcana in lowlands and submountain 
regions. The materials examined: Mazandaran, 
Nowshahr,12126 (TUH), Mazandaran, 
Tunekabon, Naqinezhad 30804 & 30805 
(TUH), Mazandaran, Kelardasht to Abbasabad, 
200 m, Termeh, Matin & Tehrani, 14478 
(IRAN).  
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
Thank due to Dr. Ihsan Al-Shehbaz, Senior 
curator of Missouri Botanical Garden, 
America, for confirmation of Cardamine 
flexuosa. Authors are grateful to Dr. Sh. Zarre,  
 
94 Naqinezhad & al.
Fig.2. Carex orbicalaris subsp. orbicularis (nat. stze).
IRAN. JOURN. BOT. I I (1), 2005
IRAN. JOURN. BOT. 1 (1), 2005 New records to Iran 95 
associated professor of Department of Biology 
in University of Tehran, for translation a 
German text to Farsi. 
 
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SOME NEW RECORD SPECIES FOR THE FLORA OF IRAN AS WELL AS ECOLOGICAL AND PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL NOTES

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SOME NEW RECORD SPECIES FOR THE FLORA OF IRAN AS WELL AS ECOLOGICAL AND PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL NOTES

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