Ajania semnanensis sp. nov. (Asteraceae–Anthemideae), from northeast Iran: insights from karyological and micromorphological data

Abstract

Ajania semnanensis (Compositae: Anthemideae), a new species of Ajania from northeast of Iran, Semnan province, is described and illustrated. Ajania semnanensis is a suffruticose perennial growing on rocky and stony slopes of mountains at altitudes of 1500–2800 m a.s.l. Karyological and micromorphological data of the pollen and achenes, as well as a distribution map for the species are provided. The cytotype of the species was found to be diploid (2n = 2x = 18) based on x = 9. The karyotype formula is 2n = 2x = 4M + 6m + 6sm + 2st. Pollen grains of A. semnanensis are prolate‐spheroidal (P/E = 1.1), 3‐zonocolporate and echinate (Anthemis type). The achenes of A. semnanensis are obovate, 1.0–1.5 × 0.5–0.6 mm, light brown, with 4–6 fine and inconspicuous ribs, glabrous, without pappus and with a subbasal carpopodium. The IUCN status of the new species is suggested to be ‘Least Concern’ (LC).

A taxonomic reassessment of the Tanacetum aureum (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) species group: insights from morphological and molecular data

“…Ajania semnanensis Sonboli and Artemisia paradoxa (Bornm.) Sonboli from subtribe Artemisiinae were selected as outgroups following the results of Sonboli et al (2011aSonboli et al ( , 2013. Information concerning voucher specimens or previously published sequences is presented in Table 3.…”

Micromorphological and cytological comparisons between Youngia japonica and Youngia longiflora using light and scanning electron microscopy

“…In this study, surface ornamentation in leaves and floral organs revealed key diagnostic micromorphological characters for Y. japonica and Y. longiflora. Specifically, guard cell size (Table 2) Asteraceae taxa (Ayaz et al, 2019;Dere & Akcin, 2017;Karanovi c et al, 2015;Sonboli et al, 2013;Yuan, Bi, & Chen, 2015) and may be driven by differing ecological conditions (Haworth & McElwain, 2008).…”

“…While the surface microstructure of cypselae of Y. japonica was papillate, Y. longiflora had a smooth cypselae surface pattern. The examined micromorphological characters have provided diagnostic characters for taxonomic delineation of species in other Asteraceae taxa (Ayaz et al, 2019; Dere & Akcin, 2017; Karanović et al, 2015; Sonboli et al, 2013; Yuan, Bi, & Chen, 2015) and may be driven by differing ecological conditions (Haworth & McElwain, 2008). Our results confirmed that the pappus is directly joined to the pericarp in the investigated species, in agreement with other species in the genus (Ke & Chen, 2016; Peng et al, 2014; Figures 1j and 2j).…”

“…Only a limited number of micromorphological studies have been conducted in Youngia , and leaf micromorphological characters of the two Korean Youngia taxa have never been compared (Ayaz et al, 2019; Budel et al, 2018; Pak et al, 2000; Peng, Gao, & Peng, 2013; Rahman et al, 2013). In addition to leaf micromorphological characters, the exine sculpturing of pollen grains is intensively used in taxonomic studies (Sonboli et al, 2013; Ferrauto, Costa, & Pavone, 2017), and has been effective for determining phylogenetic relationships within Asteraceae (Yuan, Bi, & Chen, 2015). Similarly, pollen wall ultrastructure is also a trait of taxonomic importance in other morphologically complex groups in Asteraceae (Lippi & Garbari, 2004; Wortley et al, 2012).…”

Ajania flavida (Asteraceae, Anthemideae), a distinct new species from southwestern China

“…In China, 35 species are currently recognized, among which 23 are endemic ( Shih et al 2011 ). Over the past decade, taxonomic updates in this genus have been infrequent, with only a new species described from Iran ( Sonboli et al 2013 ).…”