TAXONOMIC REVIEW AND PHYLOGENETIC INVESTIGATIONS OF LAVANDULA FROM IRAN AND OMAN

Abstract

A review of the native Iranian species of Lavandula is presented, including the first recorded occurrence of L. pubescens, new distribution records for L. coronopifolia, and a detailed description and observations of the poorly known endemic L. sublepidota. The phylogenetic relationships of several taxa, including Lavandula sublepidota and L. hasikensis from Oman, are investigated for the first time using molecular data (matK and ITS regions), and changes to the sectional classification are proposed.