A Biosystematic Study on the Four Varieties of Alyssum Minus (Brassicaceae) in Iran

Alyssum minus (l.) rothm. var. minus is recorded for the first time from iran. alyssum minus- (l.) rothm. var. mazandaranicum pakravan & bolourian is described as a new taxon from the north and west of iran. the four varieties of alyssum minus in iran (a. minus (l.) rothm. var. minus, -var. strigosum (banks & sol.) zohary, -var. micranthum (c.a.mey.) dudley and - var. mazandaranicum pakravan & bolourian) based on their morphological, palynological and anatomical characters were studied and compared with a. desertorum stapf and a. szowitsianum fisch. & mey., from the same section. although a great similarity observed in morphological characters and many intermediate specimens especially between the varieties of a. minus var minus and -var. micranthum (c. a. mey.) dudley was found, due to anatomical differentiation in sclerenchymatous cells and palynological differences in pollen size and shape, the varieties ofalyssum minus (l.) rothm. were distinguishable.