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Issue: Vol. 700 No. 1: 7 May 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-05-07
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.700.1.1
Page range: 1-17
Abstract views: 140
PDF downloaded: 14

Taxonomic and nomenclatural revision of Rubus L. (Rosaceae) in Iran

Department of Plant and Animal Science, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Department of Plant and Animal Science, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Plant Biosystematics and Ecology Research Group, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc 77900, Czech Republic; Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Czech Agrifood Research Center, Šlechtitelů 29, Olomouc 77900, Czech Republic
apomixis Hyrcanian forests polyploidy species concept subgenus Rubus Eudicots

Abstract

Rubus L. is a taxonomically intricate genus of flowering plants characterized by extensive hybridization, polyploidy, and facultative apomixis. This study aims to revise and update the taxonomy and nomenclature of Rubus in Iran, a region recognized for its rich but underexplored diversity. Utilizing recent biosystematic data from ploidy level estimation and DNA analyses, combined with extensive fieldwork across various ecological regions and herbarium studies, we identify four sexual species—R. dolichocarpus, R. ulmifolius (both diploids) and R. caesius, R. glandulosus (both tetraploids), and one frequent group of polyploid apomicts (R. ser. Discolores). Among these taxa, R. ulmifolius and R. caesius are widely distributed, while the others are found in northern Iran, mostly in the Hyrcanian forest ecoregion. Additionally, we document three rare taxa—R. ser. Hystrix, R. ser. Sylvatici, R. sect. Corylifolii, and two primary hybrids—R. dolichocarpus × R. glandulosus and R. caesius × R. ulmifolius. This contribution provides a comprehensive field guide with morphological descriptions, diagnostic characters, notes on nomenclature, distribution, and ecology, a determination key, and photographic documentation.

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How to Cite

Salahi, R., Afsharzadeh, S. & Sochor, M. (2025) Taxonomic and nomenclatural revision of Rubus L. (Rosaceae) in Iran. Phytotaxa 700 (1): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.700.1.1