A NEW COLLECTION OF ROCHELIA RETROSEPALA (BORAGINACEAE), A RARE ENDEMIC SPECIES FROM IRAN; ITS PHYLOGENETIC POSITION an‎d CONSERVATION STATUS

Recent botanical expeditions in Isfahan province led to the recollection of Rochelia retrosepala as a very rare and endemic species. Molecular data obtained from ITS nuclear sequences and trnL-F chloroplast sequences are presented to indicate its phylogenetic position in the genus. Based on the molecular results, R. persica is the closest relative taxon to the R. retrosepala. Some notes about the distribution and habitat of this rare species are presented. Furthermore, according to IUCN criteria and categories the conservation status of the species was assessed as Critically Endangered (CE).