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A MORPHOLOGIC AND TAXONOMIC STUDY OF HORDEUM MURINUM SENSU LATO (POACEAE: TRITICEAE) IN IRAN

JAMAL SAHEBI, AHMAD GHAHREMAN* AND MOHAMMAD REZA RAHIMINEJAD

Abstract: Quantitative, qualitative and multi-state morphological characters on 350 herbarium specimens from 35 Iranian populations of Hordeum murinum s.l. were examined. Based on the results of this study, the followings were chosen as diagnostic characters: fresh leaf colour, inflorescence density, inflorescence colour at anthesis and maturity, pedicel presence in central spikelet and central floret, ratio of the length of the central spikelet (excluding awn) to that of the lateral ones, shape and colour of the lateral spikelets rachilla prolongation, central spikelet lodicules margin vestiture, ratio of the anther length of the central floret to those of the lateral ones, central and lateral florets anther colour, central floret anthers situation at anthesis, and lateral florets palea vestiture. Regarding morphological diversity, the idea that this group has three distinct species is confirmed. Moreover, Hordeum murinum L., is recorded for the first time from Iran from Bandar-e Abbas and Bandar-e Lengeh. Using morphological characters, two taxonomic keys are provided for the taxa in Hordeum murinum s.l.
 

Department of Biology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Department of Biology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.