<i>Acantholimon nikitinii</i> (Plumbaginaceae, Sect. <i>Tragacanthina</i> ), as a New Addition to the Flora of Iran

ABSTRACT During a floristic survey conducted in northeastern Iran, some populations of Acantholimon nikitinii (Plumbaginaceae, sect. Tragacanthina ) were discovered. This species was previously known only from Turkmenistan and adjacent areas of northwestern Afghanistan, and its occurrence in Iran had remained doubtful. Detailed morphological examination and comparison with descriptions in Flora USSR, Flora Iranica, and Manual to the Plants of Turkmenistan confirmed the identity of the Iranian specimens as A. nikitinii . This finding extends the known distribution range of the species into northeastern Iran. This species belongs to a morphologically complex group including A. heratense , A. kandaharense , and A. longiflorum . These species share overlapping morphological characters and geographic ranges, leading to taxonomic uncertainty and possible synonymy.