Phylogeny of Astragalus L. Sect. Hololeuce Bunge and related species based on morphological characters in Iran

Abstract

Astragalus L. is the largest genus of flowering plants in Iran and has various complicated taxonomical difficulties in its classification. Astragalus sect. Hololeuce Bunge. with its closely related section (Sect. Onobrychoidei DC.) comprise a taxonomically complex group within bifurcate hair ones. Delimitation of mentioned sections is the most challenging issues. In this study, 9 species of Hololeuce plus 10 species of Onobrychoidei were analyzed phylogeneticaly using 38 morphologic characters. Some new morphological characters were represented as results for simple classification of the studied sections. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that the bulk of two sections constructed a monophyletic group but some taxonomic revisions were suggested.

Keywords

• Iran
• Sect. Hololeuce Bunge
• Morphology
• Astragalus L.
• Phylogeny