Seed and capsule morphology of Iranian perennial species ofEuphorbia(Euphorbiaceae) and its phylogenetic application

Abstract

Of the 480 species of Euphorbia subgenus Esula, c. 290 occur in the Mediterranean and Irano‐Turanian regions. Turkey and Iran are the most species‐rich countries in Asia with 83 and 74 species, respectively. Following our previous paper on annual species of Iranian Euphorbia, we studied the quantitative and qualitative macro‐ and micromorphological traits of seeds and capsules of 47 perennial species, including E. ferdowsiana sp. nov., E. sulphurea sp. nov. and E. glareosa, as a first report from Iran. A key for all Iranian perennial Euphorbia spp. based on seed and capsule morphology is provided. The phylogenetic relationships of Iranian species based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nuclear and ndhF plastid regions are updated and used for the characterization of the synapomorphies of each clade. Capsule shape, seed shape, seed surface and shape of the caruncle have been found to be homoplastic, whereas the presence or absence of granulate elements on seed surfaces represents a phylogenetically important trait for section delimitation. The capsule surface is synapomorphic for several sections, including Helioscopia (tuberculate‐verrucose), Myrsiniteae (vesiculate) and Esula (granulate), and seed shape is synapomorphic for sections Helioscopia (ellipsoidal), Myrsiniteae (ovoid‐quadrangular) and Herpetorrhizae (pseudo‐hexahedral). Reversals have also taken place in some features, including capsule surface (E. mazandaranica, E. altissima) and seed shape (E. densa, E. aleppica). It seems that ecarunculate seeds are plesiomorphic in sections Helioscopia (E. eriophora) and Herpetorrhizae (E. consanguinea and E. turczaninowii). © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 00, 000–000.

Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint Catherine, Sinai, Egypt

“…sinaicum (Plate II, Figure 4b) and lineolate in Plantago sinaica (Plate II, Figure 6b). Euphorbia is well known as a genus with a great diversity of seed characters with several different kinds of seed ornaments and the presence or absence of caruncles in the genus are important characters that are widely used to delimit species and sections within the genus (da Silva et al 2016, Pahlevani et al 2015. In the present study, seeds of Euphorbia obovata were described for the first time.…”

Taxonomic revision and phytogeographic studies in Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in the Khorassan provinces of Iran

“…According to 'Flora Iranica', there are 17 Euphorbia species in Khorassan provinces (Rechinger 1964). However, with this and other recent studies this number has been raised to 30 (Nasseh and Joharchi 2004, 2005, 2008, Nasseh et al 2006, Pahlevani 2006, 2015 (Table 1).…”

“…Also in Iran, taxonomic, morphological and molecular studies of Euphorbia have recently been undertaken (Nasseh and Joharchi 2004, 2005, 2008, Nasseh et al 2006, Pahlevani 2006, 2007, Pahlevani and Akhani 2011, Pahlevani and Riina 2011, Pahlevani and Mozaffarian 2011, 2015, 2017.…”

Trade‐off or coordination? Correlations between ballochorous and myrmecochorous phases of diplochory

“…RMA slope larger than 1; Figure a,b) shows that a larger seed invests proportionally more biomass in dispersal structures, which may help to overcome potential difficulties in dispersal. The additive benefits of diplochory could be a reason for the increased probability of displaying diplochory in large‐seeded Euphorbia species (Figure ), such as the species of the subgenus Esula (Figure S1; Pahlevani & Akhani, ; Pahlevani, Liede‐Schumann, & Akhani, ). In diplochory, a thickened fruit coat increases the probability of reliable launching (Hayashi et al, ), and a conspicuous elaiosome assures high efficiency and effectiveness of diaspore removal by ants (Mark & Olesen, ).…”