Nine New Species of the Species-rich Genus Astragalus (Leguminosae)

Ali Bagheri; Farrokh Ghahremaninejad; Ali Asghar Maassoumi; Mohammad Reza Rahiminejad; Frank R. Blattner

Ali Bagheri University of Isfahan
Farrokh Ghahremaninejad Kharazmi University
Ali Asghar Maassoumi Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands
Mohammad Reza Rahiminejad University of Isfahan
Frank R. Blattner Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben)

Keywords: Astragalus sect. Hymenostegis, Fabaceae, Iran, Zanjan Province

Abstract

As a result of our taxonomic studies of Astragalus L. sect. Hymenostegis Bunge, we recognize nine new species of this genus from Zanjan Province in northwestern Iran, namely: A. atrokurdicus Maassoumi, F. Ghahrem., Bagheri & Podlech, A. austrotaromensis Maassoumi, F. Ghahrem., Bagheri & Podlech, A. dejectus Maassoumi, F. Ghahrem. & Bagheri, A. mostafa-assadii Bagheri, Maassoumi, F. Ghahrem. & Podlech, A. paralurgiformis F. Ghahrem., Maassoumi & Bagheri, A. pluriflorus F. Ghahrem., Maassoumi, Bagheri & Podlech, A. pseudoparalurges F.Ghahrem., Maassoumi, Bagheri & Podlech, A. sohrevardianus Bagheri, Maassoumi & F.Ghahrem., and A. sublaguriformis Bagheri, Maassoumi & F. Ghahrem., which are described and illustrated here. The new species are also compared with the taxa that are morphologically most similar and presumed to be closely related.