A biosystematic study on the four varieties of Alyssum minus (Brassicaceae) in Iran

Alyssum minus (L.) Rothm. var. minus is recorded for the first time from Iran. Alyssum minus- (L.) Rothm. var. mazandaranicum Pakravan Bolourian is described as a new taxon from the North and West of Iran. The four varieties of Alyssum minus in Iran (A. minus (L.) Rothm. var. minus, -var. strigosum (Banks Sol.) Zohary, -var. micranthum (C.A.Mey.) Dudley and - var. mazandaranicum Pakravan Bolourian) based on their morphological, palynological and anatomical characters were studied and compared with A. desertorum Stapf and A. szowitsianum Fisch. Mey., from the same section. Although a great similarity observed in morphological characters and many intermediate specimens especially between the varieties of A. minus var minus and -var. micranthum (C. A. Mey.) Dudley was found, due to anatomical differentiation in sclerenchymatous cells and palynological differences in pollen size and shape, the varieties ofAlyssum minus (L.) Rothm. were distinguishable.