Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 698 No. 2: 24 Apr. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-04-24
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.698.2.3
Page range: 101-120
Abstract views: 225
PDF downloaded: 9

Contribution to the Astragalus sect. Aegacantha from Pakistan, with the description of a new species and a new record

Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, National Herbarium of Pakistan (Stewart Collection), Plant Genetic Resources Institute, PARC-National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
National Herbarium of Pakistan (Stewart Collection), Plant Genetic Resources Institute, PARC-National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Department of Plant and Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Department of Botany, Government Boys Degree College, Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan
Department of Botany, Government Girls Degree College, Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan
Eudicots Adwala Mountain A. saifullahaicus A. nigrocalyx Chitral conservation taxonomy

Abstract

Interesting species with characteristic features of the section Aegacantha were collected from Pakistan, one new species and one new record are described and reported. Astragalus saifullahaicus sp. nov. is close to A. hostilis, but differs from the latter by longer internodes, broadly- triangular stipules, elliptic to obovate leaflets with cuneate base, obtuse apex, often mucronate, racemes 2-flowered and legumes oblong to elliptic, densely covered with appressed hairs and a slightly curved, 3–5.5 mm long beak. Taxonomic descriptions, distribution map, anatomy, palynology, seed micromorphology and IUCN threat category of newly described species are presented. Astragalus nigrocalyx is reported as a new record for flora of Pakistan.

References

  1. Aitchison, J.E.T. & Baker, J.G. (1882) Astragalus ajfreidii Aitch. & Baker. Journal of the Linnean Society. Botany 19: 157.
  2. Ali, S.I. (1966) Contribution to genus Astragalus from West Pakistan. 2. Subgenera Caprinus and Cercidothrix. Phyton-Annales Rei Botanicae 11 (3): 1–133.
  3. Ali, S.I. (1978) Papilionaceae. In: Nasir, E. & Ali, S.I. (Eds.) Flora of Pakistan, Vol. 100. Dept of Botany, Univ. of Karachi, pp. 1–388.
  4. Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., de la Torre, J. & Scott, B. (2011) Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool, Version BETA. e-Infrastructures for data publishing in biodiversity science. ZooKeys 150: 117–126. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.150.2109
  5. Backlund, M. & Thulin, M. (2007) Plocama macrantha (Blatt. & Hallb.) M.Backlund & Thulin and P. hymenostephana (Jaub. & Spach) M.Backlund & Thulin. Taxon 56 (2): 324. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.562022
  6. Bentham, G. (1835) Nepeta floccosa Benth., Labiatarum Genera et Species: 736.
  7. Bentham, G. (1848) Salvia cabulica Benth. and S. rhytidea Benth. In: Candolle, A.P. (Ed.) Prodr, 12. Sumptibus Sociorum Treuttel et Würtz, Parisii, pp. 268–280.
  8. Boissier, E. (1872) Astragalus in Flora Orientalis, H Georg Geneva 2: 205–498.
  9. Boissier, P.E. (1843) Ebenus stellata Boiss. In: Boissier, P.E. (Ed.) Flora Orientalis, 2. H. Georg, Basileae, p. 100.
  10. Boissier, P.E. (1844) Salvia santolinifolia Boiss. In: Boissier, P.E. (Ed.) Flora Orientalis, 5. H. Georg, Basileae, p. 13.
  11. Boissier, P.E. (1846) Euphorbia osyridea Boiss. In: Boissier, P.E. (Ed.) Flora Orientalis, 7. H. Georg, Basileae, p. 87.
  12. Boissier, P.E. (1848) Acantholimon lycopodioides Boiss. In: Candolle, A.P. (Ed.) Prodr., 12. Sumptibus Sociorum Treuttel et Würtz, Parisii, p. 632.
  13. Boissier, P.E. (1849) Astragalus anisacanthus Boiss. In: Boissier, P.E. (Ed.) Flora Orientalis, 1. H. Georg, Basileae, p. 103.
  14. Brand, A. (1921) Caccinia macranthera (Banks & Sol.) Brand. Pflanzenr 78: 90.
  15. Breckle, S.W. & Rafiqpoor, M.D. (2010) Field guide Afghanistan. Flora and vegetation. Description of vegetation types. Scientia Bonnensis, Bonn, Germany, pp. 91–115.
  16. Budantzev, A.L. (1993) Nepeta podostachys subsp. paulsenii (Briq.) A.L.Budantzev. Bot. Zhurn 78 (1): 99.
  17. Bunge, A. (1868/69) Generis Astragali species gerontogeae. Mémoires de l'Academie Impériale des Sciences de Saint Petersbourg 11 (16): 1–140 and 15 (1): 1–254.
  18. Chaudhary, L.B., Rana, T.S. & Anand, K.K. (2008) Current status of the systematics of Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) with special reference to the Himalayan species in India. Taiwania 53 (4): 338–355.
  19. Clarke, C.B. (1876) Cousinia thomsonii. Compos, Ind, 213 pp.
  20. Darzi, R. & Zarre, S. (2024) Unveiling a longstanding misinterpretation: Revisiting the pattern formation of testa surface in Astragalus (Fabaceae, Astragaleae). Flora: 152666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2024.152666
  21. Deml, I. (1972) Revision der Sektionen Acanthophace Bunge und Aegacantha Bunge der Gattung Astragalus L. Boissiera: mémoires de botanique systématique 21: 185–228.
  22. Deml, I. (1990) Fünf neue dornige Astragalus-Arten aus Afghanistan. Mitt. Bot. Staatss. München 29: 573–588.
  23. Engel, T. (1991) The evolution of rachis thorns in Astragalus and Astracantha (Leguminosae) and the systematic applicability of thorn anatomy. Fl. Veg. Mundi (9): 17–27.
  24. Engel, T. (1992) Petiolar anatomy of North American Astragalus species (Fabaceae) with persistent petioles. Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany 13 (2): 339–345. https://doi.org/10.5642/aliso.19921302.05
  25. ESRI (2011) ArcGIS Desktop: Release 10. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, CA, USA.
  26. Gontcharov, N.F. (1955) Astragalus L. In: Vvedenskyi, A.I. (Ed.) Flora of Uzbekistan, III. Tashkent, pp. 473–686.
  27. Gontscharov, A.G. (1946) Leguminosae (Astragalus). In: Komarov, V.L. (Eds.) Flora of the U.S.S.R., Vol. 12. Izdatel’stvo Akademii Nauk SSSR. Moscow. Leningrad, pp. 1–730.
  28. Grigorjev, J.S. (1937) Astragalus nigrocalyx Slobodov ex Grig. Flora of Tadzhikistana 5: 674.
  29. Halbritter, H., Ulrich, S., Grímsson, F., Weber, M., Zetter, R., Hesse, M., Buchner, R., Svojtka, M. & Frosch-Radivo, A. (2018) Illustrated Pollen Terminology. Second edition. Springer, Vienna, 487 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71365-6
  30. Hedge, I.C. (1997) Haloxylon griffithii subsp. wakhanicum (Paulsen) Hedge. In: Rechinger, K.H. (Ed.) Flora Iranica. Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz, pp. 172–325.
  31. Hooker, J.D. (1878) Prunus jacquemontii Hook.f. In: Hooker, J.D. (Ed.) The flora of British India, 2. L. Reeve, London, p. 314.
  32. Hooker, J.D. (1878) Sophora mollis (Royle) Graham ex Baker. In: Hooker, J.D. (Ed.) The Flora of British India, 2. L. Reeve, London, p. 251.
  33. IUCN (20224) Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 25 November 2024)
  34. Jaubert, H.F. & Spach, É. (1844) Pteropyrum aucheri Jaub. & Spach. Illustrationes Plantarum Orientalium 2 (11): 8.
  35. Karamian, R. & Ranjbar, M. (2003) The first record of Astragalus sect. Aegacantha (Fabaceae) in Iran. Nordic Journal of Botany 23 (5): 541–544. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2003.tb00432.x
  36. Kashyap, S., Sahu, C.K., Verma, R.K. & Chaudhary, L.B. (2021) Taxonomic application of macro and micro morphological characters of seeds in Astragalus L. (Galegeae, Fabaceae) in India. Phytotaxa 502 (2): 191–207. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.502.2.8
  37. Khalili, Z., Kazempour-Osaloo, S.K. & Maassoumi, A.A. (2020) Phylogeny and morphological traits evolution of Astragalus sects. Acanthophace and Aegacantha in Iran on the basis of nrDNA ITS and rpl32-trnLUAG sequences. Nova Biologica Reperta 7 (2): 228–241. https://doi.org/10.52547/nbr.7.2.228
  38. Khan, A., Ahmad, M., Sultan, A., Ullah, Z., Majeed, K., Ullah, T. & Zafar, M. (2024a) Contribution to the pollen morphology of Astragalus L. section Aegacantha Bunge (Galegeae-Fabaceae) and its systematic significance. Palynology 48 (1): 2264352. https://doi.org/10.1080/01916122.2023.2264352
  39. Khan, A., Sultan, A., Maassoumi, A. & Mumtaz, A.S. (2024b) Astragalus quettensis (Galegeae—Fabaceae), a new species of section Pendulina from Pakistan. Phytotaxa 636 (1): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.636.1.1
  40. Khan, A., Sultan, A., Zarre, S. & Ishaq, K. (2023a) Astragalus pseudoanisacanthus, a new species of section Poterion from northern Balochistan (Pakistan). Phytotaxa 622 (4): 236–251. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.622.4.1
  41. Khan, A., Sultan, A. & Shah, S.A. (2023b) Astragalus roseocephalus, a new species of section Poliothrix from Pakistan. Nordic Journal of Botany 2024 (1): e03839. https://doi.org/10.1111/njb.03839
  42. Khan, A., Ahmad, M., Zafar, M., Shah, S.A. & Rozina. (2022) Systematic significance of pollen morphology in rare endemic taxa of Astragalus L. (Fabaceae). Phytotaxa 561 (3): 267–290. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.561.3.4
  43. Kitamura, S. (1956) Astragalus confertissimus Kitam. Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica 16 (5): 13.
  44. Köie, M.E. (1955) Nepeta eriosphaera Rech.f. & Köie (Symb. Afghan). Biologiske Skrifter 8 (1): 31.
  45. Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 88 pp.
  46. Maassoumi, A.A. (2005) Some interesting new species of the genus Astragalus in Iran. The Iranian Journal of Botany 11 (1): 101–109.
  47. Maassoumi, A.A. (2016) Flora of Iran, Fabaceae (Astragalus II). Research Institute of Forests and Rangeland, Tehran, Iran.
  48. Maassoumi, A.A. (2020a) The comprehensive online resource for Mega genus of Astragalus. Available from: https://astragalusofworld.com/ (accessed 22 April 2025)
  49. Maassoumi, A.A. (2020b) A Checklist of Astragalus in the world: New Grouping, New Changes and Additional species with Augmented data. Agricultural Research and Education Organization, Tehran, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, pp. 1–581. [in press]
  50. Nees, V.E. (1832) Stipagrostis obtusa Nees. Linnaea 7 (3): 293.
  51. Parker, R.N. (1921) NW Himalayan Astragali of the subgenus Aegacantha. Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, pp. 266–270. https://doi.org/10.2307/4115385
  52. Perrino, E.V. (2011) New data on Aegilops uniaristata Vis. endangered taxon in Italy. Natura Croatica 20 (1): 117–123.
  53. Perrino, E.V., Wagensommer, R.P., Silletti, G.N., Signorile, G. & Angiulli, F. (2013) Nuovi dati distributivi e relazione con la Direttiva 92/43/CEE di taxa critici pugliesi dalla Provincia di Bari. Informatore Botanico Italiano 45 (1): 53–62.
  54. Podlech, D. & Zarre, S. (2013) A taxonomic revision of the genus Astragalus L. (Leguminosae) in the Old World. Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria 3: 754–804.
  55. Podlech, D., Zarre, S. & Maassoumi, A.A. (2001) Papilionaceae IV: Astragalus II. In: Rechinger, K.H. (Ed.) Flora Iranica, Vol. 175. Akademische Druck- u.Verlagsanstalt, Graz, Austria, pp. 1–197.
  56. Prokhanov, J.I. (1949) Euphorbia pamirica (Prokh.) Prokh. Flora of the U.S.S.R 14: 438.
  57. Punt, W., Hoen, P.P., Blackmore, S., Nilsson, S. & Le Thomas, A. (2007) Glossary of pollen and spore terminology. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 143 (1–2): 1–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2006.06.008
  58. Rassulova, M.R. (1979) A new species of Astragalus L. (sect. Aegacantha Bunge) from Tadzhikistan. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk Tadzhikskoi SSR. Otdelenie biologicheskikh nauk. Dushanbe 3 (76): 108–109.
  59. Rassulova, M.R. (1980) A new species of Astragalus L. (sect. Aegacantha Bunge) from Tadzhikistan. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk Tadzhikskoi SSR. Otdelenie biologicheskikh nauk. Dushanbe 1 (78): 93–94.
  60. Rechinger, K.H. (1982) Teucrium stocksianum subsp. patulum (Hedge & Lamond) Rech.f. In: Rechinger, K.H. (Ed.) Flora Iranica. Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz, p. 29.
  61. Royle, J.F. (1835) Rosa webbiana Wall. ex Royle. In: Royle, J.F. (Ed.) Illustrations of the botany and other branches of the natural history of the Himalayan Mountains :and of the flora of Cashmere, 1 (6). Wm. H. Allen, London, p. 208.
  62. Samad, F.A., Medail, F., Baumel, A., Yakovlev, S.S., Roukoz, A., Tohme, G., Tohme, H. & Kharrat, M.B. (2021) New insights on the conservation status of the Endangered coastal endemic plant Astragalus berytheus (Fabaceae) in Lebanon. Oryx 55 (4): 519–521. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605320000149
  63. Shemetova, T., Erst, A., Wang, W., Xiang, K., Vural, C. & Aytac, Z. (2018) Seed morphology of the genus Astragalus L. from North Asia. Turkish Journal of Botany 42 (6): 710–721. https://doi.org/10.3906/bot-1802-25
  64. Slobodov, A.A. (1937) Astragalus nigrocalyx Slobodov ex Grig. In: Goncharov, N.F. (Ed.) Flora Tadzhikistana, (5). Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, p. 674.
  65. Taeb, F., Zarre, S., Podlech, D., Tillich, H.J., Kazempour Osaloo, S. & Maassoumi, A.A. (2007) A contribution to the phylogeny of annual species of Astragalus (Fabaceae) in the Old World using hair micromorphology and other morphological characters. Feddes Repertorium 118 (5–6): 206–227. https://doi.org/10.1002/fedr.200711135
  66. Thiers, B.M. (2025) Index herbariorum: a global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s virtual herbarium.
  67. Ullah, Z., Khan, A., Sultan, A., Ali, A. & Mumtaz, A.S. (2024) Astragalus kanjuensis, a new species of section Aegacantha (Galegeae-Fabaceae) from Swat, Pakistan. Phytotaxa 671 (3): 211–230. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.671.3.1
  68. Xu, L.R. & Podlech, D. (2010) Astragalus. In: Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.Y. (Eds.) Flora of China, vol.10 (Fabaceae). Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, pp. 328–453.
  69. Zarre, S., Podlech, D. & Taeb, F. (2005) New species of the genus Astragalus L. (Fabaceae), mainly from the “Flora Iranica” area. Feddes Repertorium: Zeitschrift für botanische Taxonomie und Geobotanik 116 (1–2): 54–79. https://doi.org/10.1002/fedr.200411059
  70. Zarre, S. (2003) Hair micromorphology and its phylogenetic application in thorny species of Astragalus (Fabaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 143 (3): 323–330. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.00220.x

How to Cite

Khan, A., Sultan, A., Mumtaz, A.S., Bagheri, A., Khan, N. & Khan, T. (2025) Contribution to the Astragalus sect. Aegacantha from Pakistan, with the description of a new species and a new record. Phytotaxa 698 (2): 101–120. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.698.2.3