Two new alpine species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) from Iran

Abstract

Two new Iranian alpine species of Euphorbia L. subg. Esula Pers., sect. Pithyusa (Raf.) Lázaro are described and illustrated. Euphorbia belgheisi Pahlevani is known from N Zagros Mountains at Belgheis summit and is compared with the closest species, E. sahendi Bornm. another local endemic taxon. Euphorbia mirzakhaniana Pahlevani is found from the southern part of the Talesh Mountains, the subrange of the most western part of the Alborz Mountains, and is most similar to E. gypsicola Rech.f. & Aellen, a local gypsophilous endemic species, which occurs on the gypsum hills of Semnan province. Diagnoses, descriptions, images, a distribution map, details of ecology, conservation status, seed micromorphology and pertinent notes are also included.