A taxonomic revision of genus Polygonum L. sensu lato (Polygonaceae) for Flora of Iran

Abstract

The genus Polygonum L. sensu lato is revised based on articles, herbarium documents and field observations. In this article, a brief revision of this genus in Iran is presented. It was first described by Rechinger and Schiman-Czeika [1] for flora Iranica and has included up to 53 species. The last revision of this genus has been made by Mozaffarian [2], and the genus Polygonum L. sensu lato is divided into 3 genera (Polygonum L. sensu sticto, Bistorta Adans. and Persicaria Mill.). But in present study, according to our field observations and herbarium materials, the genus Polygonum L. sensu lato has to be separated into 5 different genera including Aconogonon (Meisn.) Rchb., Bistorta (L.) Scop., Fallopia Adans., Persicaria (L.) Mill., and Polygonum L. sensu stricto. The number of species for Polygonum L. sensu lato has been reduced to 25 species. For these 5 genera, new identification keys have been created.