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| Allium parhamii Memariani, in Memariani, Behroozian & Joharchi, 2022. |
Abstract
Allium parhamii is described and illustrated as a new species from the Kopet Dagh mountain range, North Khorassan province in Iran. Based on morphological features, the new species belongs to A. sect. Asteroprason. It differs from the closely related species A. monophyllum in several floral and leaf characters as well as the micromorphological characters of seed coat and karyotype. The new species is illustrated and Red-Listed as critically endangered and notes on habitats and distribution are provided.
Keywords: Asteroprason, conservation, endemism, karyology, micromorphology, new species, taxonomy
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| Allium parhamii Memariani, in its natural habitat on exposed stony slopes. A-B. habit in early flowering stage with compact stature showing semi-globose inflorescence and two leaves, C. sub-globose bulbs and the grazed leaves by the livestock. |
Allium parhamii Memariani, sp. nov.
Similar to Allium monophyllum in shape and color of flowers, but distinguished from it by its dense and many-flowered inflorescence, usually 2 leaves with much wider blades, and larger habit, capsules, and seeds.
Eponymy:—The specific epithet of the new species is commemorated to the late Saied Parham, an Iranian nature conservationist in North Khorassan province who was killed by the poachers on December, 1st 2010 when he was on his official duties in Sarani Protected Area. The type locality of Allium parhamii (Sivak Mount) is located at the southeastern borders of Sarani Protected Area which has been protected since 1973. The area is a part of the Kopet Dagh Biosphere Reserve which was designated as one of the UNESCO worldwide inscribed areas in the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) in 2018.
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| A. Allium parhamii Memariani, with dense many-flowered inflorescence and two wider leaves. B. the closely related species, A. monophyllum, with lower number of flowers in inflorescence and a single narrow leaf. Both species are endemic to Kopet Dagh Mountains, NE Iran. |
Farshid Memariani, Maryam Behroozian and Mohammad Reza Joharchi. 2022. Allium parhamii (Amaryllidaceae, Allioideae), A New Species from Central Kopet Dagh Mountains, NE Iran. Phytotaxa. 538(1); 45-54. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.538.1.4
