Veronica subgenus Pentasepalae is the largest subgenus of Veronica in the Northern Hemisphere with approximately 80 species mainly from Southwest Asia. In order to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among the members of V. subgenus Pentasepalae and to test the “out of the Iranian plateau” hypothesis, we applied thorough taxonomic sampling, employing nuclear DNA (ITS) sequence data complimented with morphological studies and chromosome number counts. Several high or moderately supported clades are reconstructed, but the backbone of the phylogenetic tree is generally unresolved, and many Southwest Asian species are scattered along a large polytomy. It is proposed that rapid diversification of the Irano-Turanian species in allopatric glacial refugia and a relatively high rate of extinction during interglacial periods resulted in such phylogenetic topology. The highly variable Asian V. orientalis–V. multifida complex formed a highly polyphyletic assemblage, emphasizing the idea of cryptic speciation within this group. The phylogenetic results allow the re-assignment of two species into this subgenus. In addition, V. bombycina subsp. bolkardaghensis, V. macrostachya subsp. schizostegia and V. fuhsii var. linearis are raised to species rank and the new name V. parsana is proposed for the latter. Molecular dating and ancestral area reconstructions indicate a divergence age of about 9 million years ago and a place of origin on the Iranian Plateau. Migration to the Western Mediterranean region has likely taken place through a North African route during early quaternary glacial times. This study supports the assumption of the Irano-Turanian region as a source of taxa for neighboring regions, particularly in the alpine flora.

In this study, we analyzed pollen characters of 25 Jurinea Cass. species and seven closely related genera from the flora of Iran using light and scanning electron microscopy. Principal component analysis as well as a cluster analysis performed using the quantitative characters of pollen. Pollen morphology clearly separates J. bungei, J. eriobasis, J. gedrosiaca and J. mobayenii from the remained species of Jurinea. Pollen peculiarities along with apparent morphological differences suggest three new sections or even genera for species currently classified within Jurinea. Pollen characters support the segregation of Jurinea from closely related genera. A dichotomous key has been provided for all taxa studied.

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Réévaluation morphologique du statut taxonomique de Satureja L. (Lamiaceae, Nepetoideae, Mentheae) de la flore d'Iran. Une nouvelle circonscription de Satureja à partir de la flore d'Iran a été réalisée. Les données présentées sont principalement basées sur l'observation approfondie sur le terrain et les études d'herbier de Satureja. Le genre contient 12 espèces dont sept espèces sont endémiques de l'Iran. Des descriptions complètes pour chacun de ces taxons, des illustrations, la distribution géographique, des remarques taxonomiques sur les matériaux examinés ainsi qu'une clé d'identification, et des cartes de distribution mises à jour pour l'Iran sont données. Certains taxons sont ici mis en synonymie pour la première fois: S. kermanshahensis Jamzad est synonyme de S. bachtiarica Bunge, S. rechingeri Jamzad est synonyme de S. khuzistanica Jamzad, S. atropatana Bunge est synonyme de S. macrantha C.A.Mey. et S. spicigera (C.Koch) Boiss. est synonyme de S. mutica Fisch. & Mey. De plus, S. boissieri Hausskn. ex Boiss. a été exclu de la flore iranienne, et le nom d'espèce antérieur, S. longiflora, auparavant traité comme synonyme de S. edmondii, est ressuscité ici.