A TAXONOMICAL, MORPHOLOGICAL AND CYTOLOGICAL REVISION OF THE GENUS FORMERLY TREATED AS NARDURUS REICHENB. (POEAE, POACEAE) IN IRAN

The taxonomic status of the two species previously treated as Nardurus subulatus (now Loliolum subulatum)and Nardurus maritimus (now Vulpia unilateralis) are reviewed and improved according to the latest classifications for these taxa. A critical study of ۳۰ herbarium specimens and ۴۹۰ plant individuals collected all around Iran were studied based on the morphological and cytological characters. Cytological analysis showed that ۲n = ۲x = ۱۴ and all karyotype symmetry indices indicated symmetric karyotypes for both species with metacentric chromosomes. This is the first report on chromosome number of Loliolum subulatum. Two species were clearly separated by morphological data and a close relationship between both species and two species of Vulpia (V. persica and V. hirtiglomis), used as controls, was observed. Regarding high similarity between Loliolum subulatum and the species of Vulpia we propose to transfer this species to the genus Vulpia.