Ranunculus Polyrhizos As A New Record For Iran, With Ecological And Micromorphological Evidence

Abstract

Ranunculus polyrhizos is reported as a new noteworthy record for the flora of Iran. This species was collected from alpine dry gravelly slope in Talesh Mountains. Taxonomic remarks and notes geographical distribution and habitat for this species are provided. Moreover nectar scale, pollen and achene micromorphological characters of the species are added and compared with related species.

Full text

ISSN 2226-3063 e-ISSN 2227-9555
Modern Phytomorphology 10 (Suppl.): 25–29, 2016
hps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.159042
© 2016 e Author(s). Published by Andrew Noviko (Andriy Novikov), State Natural History Museum NAS of Ukraine
on behalf of Modern Phytomorphology. is is an open access article under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license
(hp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) freely available on hps://phytomorphology.org/ .
Introduction
Genus Ranunculus L. (Ranunculaceae Juss.)
with about 60 taxa is one of the largest
genera in the ora of Iran (I
et al. 1992; N et al. 2016). is
genus is distributed in dierent habitats
including forests, dry and wet meadows, ood
plains, lakes, rivers, and in alpine regions
(J 1998). Recently, studies have
been carried out in taxonomy (P
2010, 2012), palynology (P et al.
2010, 2014), phylogeny (R et al.
2011) and morphology of nectaries (E et
al. 2010; N et al. 2009) of some Iranian
Ranunculus species.
Pollen morphology of Ranunculaceae was
investigated by various authors (W
1936; K 1936; S 1979;
H 1976; P et al. 1981). C
et al. (1991) described three dierent pollen
types of Ranunculus viz R. acris, R. arvensis
and R. parviorus types. In particular, R. acris
type he divided onto nine groups which are
commonly characterized by their tricolpate
(rarely pentacolpate) apertures.
B (1856) described dierent
shape of the nectaries of Ranunculus. Cook
(1966) introduced three main nectary types:
lunate, circular and pyriform. Subsequently,
D (1992) described eight types of
nectaries for subgen. Batrachium.
e main classications (D C
1818; T 1995; D & C 1965;
I et al. 1992) showed that characters
of achenes are suitable in separation of taxa in
Ranunculus. Ranunculus achenes are usually
with a persistent glabrous beak, without distinct
longitudinal wrinkles, rarely faintly wrinkled on
lateral faces, pericarp with sclerenchymatous
layer, have important role in infrageneric
classication.
e aim of the current paper is to introduce
Ranunculus polyrhizos as a new record
from Iran. Additionally, some ecological and
micromorphological characters of the species
are represented.
NUNCULUS POLYRHIZOS AS A NEW RECORD FOR IN,
WITH ECOLOGICAL AND MICROMORPHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
M B 1*, F G 1, M P 2
Abstract. Ranunculus polyrhizos is reported as a new noteworthy record for the ora of Iran. is species was collected
from alpine dry gravelly slope in Talesh Mountains. Taxonomic remarks and notes geographical distribution and habitat
for this species are provided. Moreover nectar scale, pollen and achene micromorphological characters of the species are
added and compared with related species.
Key words: Ranunculus polyrhizos, Talesh Mountains, new record, ora, autoecology
1 Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, 49 Dr. Mofaeh av., 15719-14911 Tehran,
Iran; *mbidarlord15@gmail.com
2 Plant Science Department, Faculty of Biological Science, Alzahra University, Dehe Vanak str., 19938-91176 Tehran, Iran

26 M P 10 Suppl. (2016)
Material and methods
During the eld work in Talesh mountains
some interesting Ranunculus specimens
were collected. Later these specimens were
crosschecked with Floras (B 1867;
O 1937; D & C 1965;
I et al. 1992; W & G
2001) and then, on the base of inspection
of herbarium collections at T, FAR, TARI
and W, the specimens have been identied
as R . polyrhizos Stephan ex Willd. Recorded
material was deposited at FAR, T and W
herbaria.
Some morphological characters were
measured in the eld on living plants, while
others were analyzed on herbarium specimens
by using stereomicroscope Zeiss Stemi SV 6.
Micromorphological analyses were carried
out on scanning electron microscope KYKY-
EM 3200. Soil samples were taken from the
center of the population to 30 cm depth.
Measured soil variables include physical
and chemical properties. Soil texture was
determined by the hydrometric method
(B 1951). Soil pH and soil
electrical conductivity (EC) were determined
by pH-meter with glass electrode and EC-
meter respectively. Organic maer (OM)
was estimated by Walkley and Black method
(N & S 1996).
Results and discussion
Ranunculus polyrhizos Stephan ex
Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4 [von Willdenow.] 2
(2): 1324, 1799; Ovchinnikov, Flora of
USSR 7: 301, 1937; Davis, Flora of Turkey
1: 170, 1965; Wang, Flora of China 6: 282,
2001 (Fig. 1).
Specimens examined. IN: Ardabil province,
43 km on the road of Ardabil to Khalkhal, Neor, Lissar
protected area, Bacrodagh mountain, 2800-2900 m a.s.l.,
37°58N, 48°36E, 03 May 2014, Bidarlord 15887 (FAR ,
T, W).
Additional specimens examined. CHINA:
Manchuria, Tigrowe Prope Schi-touhodse. 5.6.1928,
N. Kozlow, W 12438, 1940. RUSSIA: W 9910, 1964;
W 21992, 1974; W 12892, 1992; W 09052, 1991.
TURKEY: B8 Erzurum, Palandoken Dag Gebirgs steppe,
2900 m, 1978, W 12892.
Morphological remarks. Perennial glabrous
plants, 5-17 cm high. Roots fasciculate, slender.
Collar brous. Stems 1-3, usually ascending or
erect, distally branched, mostly 2-5-owered.
Basal leaves petiolate, petioles 1.5-5 cm,
glabrous; blade 0.7-1.8×1-3.2 cm, more or less
reniform or rounded-reniform in outline, deeply
tripartite or trisected, the segments tapering to
a petiole like base, the middle segment oblong
Fig. 1. Ranunculus polyrhizos: A – habit; B – root; C – basal leaf lamina; D – stem leaf lamina; E – ower (sepals and
petals); F– friut.

27
obovate, cuneate, with 3 rounded apical teeth or
small lobes, the lateral segments broader than
the middle one, bid, with entire obtuse margin.
Lower stem leaves similar to basal leaves. Upper
stem leaves sessile, trisected, segments linear,
bracts sessile, 2-3-partite, with linear lobes.
Peduncles nely sulcate, oen divaricate, in
groups of 2 or 3, glabrous or minutely hairy
distally. Flowers solitary, terminal, 1-2 cm
in diameter. Receptacles puberulent. Sepals
5, as long as half of petals, more or less broad
ovate, convex, with numerous prominent
rather dark longitudinal partly branching veins,
abaxially sparsely yellowish and puberulent;
the edges whitish, scarious, hairy. Petals
5-7, 5-10×5-8 mm obovate, with prominent
veins on both surfaces, the margin rounded,
with a few hairs near nectary, nectar scale sacate.
Stamens numerous; anthers narrowly oblong.
Achenes 2-2.5 mm long, ca. 1.5-2 mm wide,
more or less obovate or oblong-obovate, turgid,
covered with a short whitish-scarious hairs,
without transverse wrinkles, but pericarp oen
in lower seed-bearing part with two longitudinal
spongy wings; the beak to 0.3 mm, glabrous,
uncinate. Scanning electron microscope analysis
of achene morphology showed that epidermal
cells are imbricate, with strip-like hairs. Seeds
light brown with dark brown longitudinal ribs,
ellipsoid or triangular, 1-1.5 mm long and
0.8-1 mm wide, outline on the hilum face
triangular (Figs 2 & 3).
Phenology. Flowering in April – May,
fruiting in May – June.
Distribution and habitat. R. polyrhizos
has been collected from alpine dry gravelly
slope of the Backrodagh mountain in the
Talesh mountains, ranging from altitudes of
2800-2900 m a.s.l. Accordingly to conducted
analysis, this species grows on the loamy soils
(sand 48, clay 20, silt 32) with pH 7, soil EC
– 670 µSiemens/cm, and organic maer near
4.5%. is species was accompanied by such
alpine species as Allium derderianum Regel,
Fig. 2. SEM micrographs of Ranunculus polyrhizos: A – achene; B – achene surface; C – polar view of pollen grain;
D – equatorial view of pollen grain; E – exin surface.
B M. et al. Ranunculus polyrhizos, a new record for Iran

28 M P 10 Suppl. (2016)
Alopecurus aucheri Boiss., Artemisia melanolepis
Boiss., Astragalus aureus Willd., Campanula
stevenii M. Bieb., Colchicum raddeanum (Regel)
K. Perss., Festuca rupicola Heu., Ficaria
kochii (Ledeb.) Iranshahr & Rech. f, Jurinea
monocephala Aitch. & Hemsl., Minuartia recurva
(All.) Schinz & ell., Onobrychis cornuta (L.)
Desv., Poa bulbosa var. vivipara Koch, Scutellaria
pinnatida A. Ham., Tanacetum chiliophyllum
(Fisch. & E. Mey. ex DC.) Sch. Bip, ymus
kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen., Valeriana
leucophaea DC., and Veronica kurdica Benth.
R. polyrhizos is an Euro-Siberian element. It
was rstly described from Siberia (W
1799). It is distributed from Turkey,
Transcaucasia, Central and South Russia,
Siberia, Kazakhstan to China (Xinjiang). is
species grows in alpine screes, steppes, meadows,
among scrubs, sometimes on abandoned elds,
dry gravelly slopes in altitude from 1200 to 3000
m a.s.l. (O 1937; D & C
1965; W & G 2001).
According to molecular results (E
et al. 2010), the Central Asian specimens
of R. polyrhizus were nested within North
American clade. However, some previous
investigations (N et al. 2009; E
et al. 2010) showed that characters of nectar
scale have taxonomical value and separate these
Ranunculus species.
In R. polyrhizos nectar is excreted by nectar
scale at the base of petal on the yellow claw.
Nectar scale is about 1×0.8 mm. It arises directly
from the petal to which it is laterally aaching
in the whole of its length and forming a sack
at the petal boom. At the top it is hairy and
sometime dentate (Fig. 3). Basing on N
et al. (2009) R . polyrhizos nectar scale shape is
similar to such in R. asiaticus, but in color it is
golden-yellow instead of red-purple.
e pollen grains of R. polyrhizos
are triporate, radically symmetrical, and
heteropolar. e length of polar axis (P)
is 29.5 µm and equatorial length (E) is
22.01 µm, ±P/E = 29.5/22.1. Pollen shape
is prolate. Ornamentation is verrucate. Pollen
characters R. polyrhizos is similar to R. glacialis
(H et al. 2011). ese pollen
characters occurred in the R. acris type in
accordance to C et al. (1991).
Acknowledgements
e authors wish to thank former curator
of W Herbarium for providing the herbarium
specimens. We also wish to thank Dr. J. Noorozi
for his valuable comments.
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B M. et al. Ranunculus polyrhizos, a new record for Iran