SPECIES OF MELILOTUS IN IRAN (KEY TO THE SPECIES, DESCRIPTIONS AND THEIR DISTRIBUTIONS)

The genus Melilotus contains altogether some ۲۰ species (WIERSEMA et al. ۱۹۹۰) in the world which mostly distributed in Europe, Central and SW. Asia and N. Africa (HUCHINSON ۱۹۶۴). BOISSIER (۱۸۷۲) listed ۱۳ species of Melilotus in which ۶ of them are found in the Iranian flora. PARSA (۱۹۴۸) following Boissier’s work referring some new collections made by other workers, listed the same species number of this genus for Iran. RECHINGER (۱۹۸۴) reported ۸ species of Melilotus to the Iranian plateau by referring to the presence of ۵ of them to Iran itself. In the present work based on morphological characters on more than ۲۰۰ specimens of Melilotus from the different parts of Iran, ۴ species are distinguished, namely, M. officinalis, M. a/bus, M. indicus and M. sulcatus. The last one (M sulcatus) which verified by CHAMBERLAIN (from Edinburgh) is considered as a new record to the flora of Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Melilotus ، Taxonomy ، Iran