TY -JOUR
AU -Mahmoud Bidarlord
AU -Bahareh Akbarnejad
AU -Mehrshid Riahi
AU -Ehsan Hoseini
AU -Farrokh Ghahremaninejad
TI -<i>Myosotis persica</i> (Boraginaceae), a new species from alpine wetlands of NW Iran
PY -2025
DA -2025-08-06
JO -Taiwania
VL -70
IS -4
SP -585
EP -590
UR -https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2112
AB -A new species, <i>Myosotis persica</i>, is described and illustrated from the alpine wetlands of the Talesh Mountains in northwestern Iran, a transitional zone between the Irano-Turanian and Euro-Siberian floristic regions. Morphological distinctiveness and phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences support its recognition as a species new to science. Morphological comparisons indicate that <i>M. persica</i> is closely allied to <i>M. koelzii</i>, <i>M. ramosissima</i>, and <i>M. diminuta</i> but can be distinguished by its dwarf habit, branched filiform stems, patent to erect leaf hairs, deeply lobed calyx, and nutlet morphology. Phylogenetic reconstruction confirms its placement within <i>Myosotis</i> subgen. <i>Myosotis</i>, forming a supported clade with <i>M. koelzii</i> and <i>M. ramosissima</i>. With an estimated extent of occurrence less than 10 km² and a total population size under 1500 individuals, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) under IUCN criteria. The findings underscore the importance of conserving alpine wetland habitats and provide new insights into species diversification within the genus <i>Myosotis</i> in south-western Asia.
DO -10.6165/tai.2025.70.585