BIOSYSTEMATIC STUDY OF SOME PAPAVER (PAPAVERACEAE) SPECIES FROM IRAN

In order to clarify the taxonomic state of some Iranian Papaver species, cluster and PCA analysis of data sets resulted from macro- and micromorphological study of 14 species belonging to the genus Papaver in Iran were performed. Macromorphological characters of all species included in the study were examined. Pollen grains and seeds belonging to the species were scanned using SEM microscopy. High correlation among the results obtained from analyses of 38 morphological, 11 palynological and 6 seed characters was observed especially at lower levels. Based on our results, P. gaubae is reduced as a variety named P. glaucum var. gaubae and the name P. piptostigma is regarded as a synonym of the older P. macrostomum. In addition, our results do not confirm opinions indicating synonymy of P. fugax with the older name P. armeniacum. Also, P. halophilum is regarded as a variety of P. macrostomum.