Rhamnus persica Boissier (1843: 4)

Alijanpoor, Behnaz, Khodayari, Hamed, Assadi, Mostafa, Rahiminejad, Mohammadreza & Mehregan, Iraj, 2021, A taxonomic revision of Rhamnus L. and Atadinus Raf. (Rhamnaceae) in Iran, Phytotaxa 521 (3), pp. 127-158 : 147-148

7. Rhamnus persica Boissier (1843: 4) .

Syn.: R. Kurdica Boissier & Hohenacker var. persica (Boiss.) Bornmüller (1910: 325) .

Typus — IRAN. Perezend Persiae australis, In rupibus montis, Aucher –eloy ( G 4318 !) .

R. kurdica Boissier & Hohenacker var. kermanensis Bornmüller (1910: 325) .

Typus — IRAN. Kermancha : in montosis, Strauss (00009393 JE!) .

Description —Shrubs, mostly creeping on rocks or erect (10–)30 × 120(–20) cm high; the canopy cover diameter is mostly more than the height of the plant. Stems white or grey; spines intricate, alternate, of high density. Branches simple, 0.5–7.5 cm long, medium to very thick, when young then thin, white, when old then brownish to red, with cream longitudinal lines; two types of branches: long branches (spiny) ending in spines at the tip, alternate, when in young densely pubescent, the angles between branches acute or obtuse, sometimes straight; and short (scaly) branches bearing flowers, fruits, fasciculate leaves and red buds at the end. Leaves 2–12 × 1–8 mm, of two sizes: small and big, leathery, mostly thick, sometimes pubescent, mostly fasciculate on scaly branches and rarely alternate on long ones, polymorphic (orbicular, elliptic and spathulate) in each specimen, mostly greenish yellow, silver green and rarely dark green, teeth and glands absent; lateral nerves 3–4(–5) pairs, inconspicuous (in flowering rarely conspicuous), almost straight or sometimes curved, opposite at the base of leaves and alternate towards the apex; base of leaves cuneate or narrow cuneate; apex of leaves obtuse or rarely acute; petioles 1–4 mm long, unequal, sometimes pubescent. Flowers polygamous in axils of leaves, fasciculate with 1–12 in each node or single, 2.5–3 mm long; calyx campanulate with acute lobes, 1–3 mm long, glabrous; petals (1–)4 or absent, linear or rarely broad, equal and opposite to filaments; disk very small; ovary with 2–4 locular and with 2–4 styls; peduncles 2–6 mm long, unequal. Fruits a fleshy spherical drupe, glabrous, 2.5–6 mm long; mature fruits bright red, immature ones green-red, green and yellow,with deep (opened) or superficial furrows, containg 2–4 seeds; with not fully developed seed. Seeds elliptical, cream, 2.5–4 mm long, with one split.

Habitat and distribution —In IRAN, PAKISTAN and IRAQ.

It is an Irano-Turanian element of N & C in Iran. It grows at an altitude of 900-2400 m, between 40° and 56° E and between 28° and 37° N on slopes of N, W, E and S in diverse habitats, e.g., rocky, sandy and rarely cliffs .

Phenology —Flowering is in second half of May, fruits and seeds maturie in second half of July and late August.

Discussion — R. persica is related to R. prostrata and R. kurdica , but it is closer to R. prostrata , because of several similar morphological characters, e.g., habit, shape of leaves, intricate and many spiny branches. Other characters of R. persica Boiss. , such as: habit, laeves, stems and spines are very diverse. The habit is spreading or erect on rocks, rarely runners on cliffs. Stems are erect to twisted, mostly with many spines or rarely with few spine and with variable angles. Leaves are polymorphic with two sizes and three kinds of green colors, including silver green, dark green and yellowish green in differen habitats in each population. Fruit furrows are mostly superficial and rarely deep. Sometimes there are two season flowering every year, plants are very fragrant when flowering. Of course its habitat is variable.

Examined specimens— IRAN. Azarbayjan ( W): Lake Rezaiyeh, SW side , 37°12ʹ E, 45°21ʹ N, 1300-1400 m, 23 April 1963, M . Jacobs s.n. ( W 5137 !); From Urmia towards Oshnavieh, Darreh-ye Qasemlu, Darreh Khan, Southern slope, rocky habita , 45°08ʹ53ʺ E, 37°18ʹ38ʺ N, 1600 m, 29 May 2017, Alijanpoor ( TARI 10382 3!); Bakhtiari: 40 km S . Gandoman , 1920 m, 08 July 1959, H . Pabot , s.n. ( W 2260 ); 40 km S Gandoman, 1920 m, 08 Juyl 1959, Pabot s.n. ( IRAN 35799 !) ; Fars: 40 km from Abadeh towards Saadat Shahr, after Safa Shahr, on the mts., Eastern slope, rocky habitat, 53°13ʹ30ʺ E, 30°23ʹ59ʺ N, 2183 m, 26 August 2017, Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103838 !); Deh Bid to Khounkhoreh, 05 Juyl 1949, Behboudi s.n. ( IRAN 35804 !); Neyriz towards Estahban, Eich roda, beside Eich Transcommunication tower, Southern, Eastern slope, rocky with a little ston carcass and soil habitat , 54°11ʹ08ʺ E, 29°04ʹ38ʺ N, 2400 m, 13 April 2017, Alijanpoor & Sadeghi s.n. ( TARI 103863 !); 68 km NE Perspolis , 1800 m, 12 July 1959, Pabot s.n. ( W 2379 !, IRAN 35800 !); 60 km NE Perspolis, 1900 m, 12 07 1269 ( W 18001!); 39 km E Kazeroun, 1850 m, 10 May 1959, H . Pabot 977 s.n. ( W!); Shiraz to Abadeh , Tangeh Saadat Abad , 28 May 1969, Termeh & Izadyar s.n. ( IRAN 35806 !); Shiraz to Tal Khosravi , Cheshmeh , Saraghan , 22 July 1949, Behboudi s.n. ( IRAN 35802 !); Shiraz , Toldkhosrow Tschachmd , Baraghum , 12 July 1969, s.n. ( W 08279!); 2 km SE Shiraz, 1450 m, 30 April 1961, H . Pabot s.n. ( W 6196 !); Hormozghan: From Tazian towards Genu, Mt. Genu , Nouthern slope, rocky and a little ston carcass habitat , 56°10ʹ30ʺ E, 27°25ʹ48ʺ N, 1100–2300 m, 26 April 2017, Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103822 !) ; Isfahan: From Najafabd towards Trian, Kurd-e Olya village , Osor (Abshar) towards Cheheldokhtran, Eastern slope, rocky. habitat , 50°42ʹ E, 32°55ʹ N, 2420 m, 06 May 2017, Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103871 !); From Najafabd towards Trian, Kurd-e Olya village , Faridel, Tang-e Kolang, rocky habitat , 50°38ʹ E, 33°00ʹ N, 2490 m, 06 May 2017; Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103872 !); Road Shahreza towards Samirom, before opposite of Kohrouyeh village , Southern slope, rocky and a little stone carcass habitat , 51°48 E, 31°43ʹ N, 2200 m, 07 May 2017, Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103839 !); 27.4 km S . Isfahan, 1700 m, 24 April 1961, H . Pabot s.n. ( W 5757 !); W Isfahan, Kolah Ghaz National Park (Kuh-e Kolah Ghai), ca. 25 km ab ES Isfahan austro-orieatem versus, substr calc., 51°49ʹ E, 32°25ʹ N, 1700–2000 m, 29 May 1974, 46765 K. H . Rechinger s.n. ( G 03486!); W Qashqai, Pashma Kuh, Semirum 5 km occidentem versus, substr, calc., 2700- 3000 m, 06 June 1974, K. H . Rechinger s.n. ( W 03493!) ; Kerman: Ca. 60 Km from Baft towards Khabr Protected Area, Mazar village, Bazidar valley , northern slope, Nouthern slope, habitat rocky and a little stone carcass , 56°32ʹ30ʺ E, 28°44ʹ16ʺ N, 2230 m, 12 April 2017, Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103893 !); Darzin, 22 km on the road to Giroft, 1830 m, 15 April 1975, H . Foroughi 21776 ( W!); Montes Kuh-e Jebal Barez in vicinitare vici Deh Bakri , in delivibus montium saxosis , 57°56ʹ E, 29°03ʹ N, 1700–2700 m s. m., 02 May 1973, J . Sajak, Jiri sojak s.n. ( B 4079 !); Jiroft to Chenaran , 21 June 1960, Pabot s.n. ( IRAN 35797 !); in monte Kuh-i-Nasr , 3600–3900 m s. m, 24 May 1892, J . Bornmuller 3427; Mllaucilusm. Kuh-i-Doihupar , 3000 m. s.m, 04 June 1892, J . Bornmuller, 3425 J . Bornmuller ( W!); Inter Persicoturcicum; N de Giroft, Chenaran , Deh-Balsi. , 02 June 1960, Dadashy adeh, DK s.n. ( W 363 !) ; Kermanshah: From Ilam towards Kermanshah, Goaver road, Gholi Gholi village , on the Mts., rocky habitat , 40°04ʹ12ʺ E, 34°22ʹ47ʺ N, 1010 m, 21 May 2017, Alijanpoor & Karimi s.n. ( TARI 103840 !, 103834!); From Eslam Abad towards Gahvareh, ca.15 Km to Chenar village, Nouth Easternern and South Western slopes, rocky and rarely pasture habitat , 46°27ʹ07ʺ N, 34°13ʹ04ʺ E, 1490 m, 21 May 2017, Alijanpoor & Karimi ( TARI 103866 !) ; Gilan Gharb, Sarab , 29 April 1948, Behboudi s.n. ( IRAN 35796 !); Qasr Shirin to Sar Pol Zahab, 12 April 1951, Sharif s.n. ( IRAN 35805 !); Khozestan: From Bebahan towards Bahmaee, Tag-e Maghar, rocky habitat , 55°56ʹ26ʺ E, 31°00ʹ21ʺ N, 1500 m, 11 April 2017, Alijanpoor & Nodost s.n. ( TARI 103807 !); Lurestan: Kuhdasht, Darreh Simareh, 850 m, 13 August 1973, Mussavi & Satei s.n. ( IRAN 35801 !); Malavi, Pol Kalhou, 19 April 1936, Gauba s.n. ( IRAN3 5803!); From Malavi towards Pol Dokhtat, after ca. 2 Km Pol Dokhtar Polis station , rocky habitat , 47°49ʹ35ʺ N, 33°16ʹ48ʺ E, 770 m, 18 May 2017, Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103833 !) ; Ilam: Ca.15 Km from Ilam towards Mehran, after tunnel, Banroshan village, Southern slope, rocky habitat, 46°13ʹ18ʺ E, 33°33ʹ21ʺ N, 889 m, 22 May 2017, Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103830 !); From Ilam towards Eyvan Gharb, Mt. Renow, Mt. Eyvan , beside Gadim tunnel, 26 Agust 2017, Alijanpoor & Feyzi s.n. ( TARI 103851 !) ; Markazi: Mahalat, beside Abbasabad Mine, Nouthern–Eastern slope, rocky habitat, 50°32ʹ09ʺ E, 33°51ʹ50ʺ N, 1760–1780 m, 15 May 2017, Alijanpoor s.n. ( TARI 103836 !) ; IRAQ. Erbil (Kurdistan): in fissuris rupium calc. faucium infra Rowanduz, ca. 700 m, 08–09 Agust 1957, Itinera Orientalia, ( W 11239,08137 !); Mosul (Kurdistan), ad confinesTurciae prov Hakart , inter Mosul et Zahbo , 02 June 1957, K. H . Rechinger, 10658 ( W 08140!) ; PAKISTAN. Balochistan: Makran, Panjgur Area Valley, Uli Chackuli , 1600 m, 05 May 1998, H . Riedi & R . Rafid s.n. ( W 08594!) .