Taxonomy of the wild species of genus Crataegus (Rosaceae): An updated review for the flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijan)

A M Ibrahimov,A V Matsyura,K Jankowski

doi:10.15421/012057

Abstract

We clarified the current state of genus Crataegus L. in the flora of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijan) using a comparative analysis of herbarium specimens from the Azarbaijan herbariums and data collected during the expeditions in 2004–2018. We succeed in adding some important data on the flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Azerbaijan, we also enhanced the previous research with chromosome and morphological analysis. We identified 17 wild species of Crataegus genus in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (C. pentagyna Waldst. et Kit. ex Willd., 1800, C. zangezura Pojark., 1939, C. orientalis Pall. ex Bieb., 1808, C. pojarkoviae Kossych, 1964, C. tournefortii Griseb., 1843, C. szovitsii Pojark., 1939, C. pontica C. Koch, 1853, C. meyeri Pojark., 1939, C. eriantha Pojark., 1939, C. atrosanguinea Pojark., 1939, C. caucasica C. Koch, 1853, C. pallasii Griseb., 1843, C. rhipidophylla Gand. (С. curvisepala Lindm.; C. kyrtostyla Pojark.) 1871, C. pseudoheterophylla Pojark., 1939, C. monogyna Jacq., 1775, C. x armena Pojark., 1939, and C. x cinovskisii Kassumova), which will contribute to five introduced cultural species used in the greenery. We also clarified the status of interserial and intersection hybrids using the chromosome and morphological analysis. The article includes the complete list of Crataegus L. species with information about synonyms of the species, patterns of distribution, habitat, latitude and elevation, flowering and fruiting phenology.

Highlights

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (AR) is a part of the Azerbaijan Republic, situated in the southwestern region of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains
We analyzed the specimens from the Herbarium Fund of the Botany Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Bioresources İnstitute of the Nakhchivan Section of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Nakhchivan State University
We reported 17 wild species of Crataegus L. for the flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

Summary

Introduction

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (AR) is a part of the Azerbaijan Republic, situated in the southwestern region of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The Republic of Nakhchivan is considered a distinct climate and physicalgeographical area of Azerbaijan (Mirzeyev, 1952). The mean annual temperature is about 10–14 °C. Areas above 2,300–2,400 m have a mean annual air temperature of less than 4 °C. In the lower part of the Republic, the mean air temperature is 18 °C in January and 41–43 °C in July–August. In the middle mountain zone in December–February and July–August, it equals 69–78% and 52–55% respectively, which is similar to the Lesser Caucasus foothills area. The annual precipitation volume is 210–310 mm in the lowland region, 365–550 mm in the mid-mountainous area, and 660 mm in the alpine region

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Conclusion