XVI International Botanical Congess

Alhagi (Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant possessing a wide distribution throughout Iran. Numerical taxonomy and cytology of 85 Alhagi plants collected from different regions of the country was undertaken. Principal component analysis showed presence of two distinct groups (species) of Alhagi, namely A. pseudoalhagi and A. graecorum. Cytological study showed presence of 2n=16 chromosomes in all taxa studied, however, they varied in details of karyotypes and showing a significant difference in the size of chromosomes. B-Chromosomes are reported for the first time in Alhagi. Seed storage protein data (SDS-PAGE) also could separate taxa studied.