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Diversity, distribution, endemism and conservation status of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in SW Asia and adjacent countries

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Abstract

In order to evaluate the diversity, endemism, distribution and conservation of the genus Euphorbia in SW Asian countries, we generated an updated and annotated checklist of 249 taxa belonging to the current accepted four Euphorbia subgenera, 30 sections and five subsections, based on floristic compilations followed by extensive verification of nearly 24,000 herbarium vouchers from the region. We also provide updated distribution maps for 247 of the 249 taxa treated. The predominant group is Euphorbia subg. Esula, with 19 sections and 184 taxa (176 species), followed by subg. Chamaesyce (six sections, 32 species), subg. Euphorbia (two sections, 21 species) and subg. Athymalus (three sections, 12 species). Turkey, Iran and Syria are the most diverse countries, with 102, 92 and 50 species, respectively. The richest concentration of Euphorbia species in SW Asia are the eastern part of the Mediterranean region in Lebanon with 27–34 taxa; Alborz, Zagros (Iran), Lesser Caucasus, and Anti-Taurus (S Turkey) with 21–27 taxa each are the second richest areas. The highest number of endemics occurs in Iran (21 taxa), followed by Turkey (12 taxa) and Yemen (7 taxa). All 134 endemic and subendemic taxa were evaluated by the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Among the known Euphorbia species in the region, 10 of them (4.4%) are adventive. Life-form spectra show that the majority of species (80.7%) are hemicryptophytes, therophytes and chamaephytes. Twelve new records are reported here for Iran, Afghanistan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey, six synonyms and three sectional transfers are suggested.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the curators of the herbaria B, FUMH, K, M, MSB, TARI, W and WU for the loan of herbarium specimens and also to all curators of mentioned herbaria in the text for their help during visits. The first author acknowledges an IAPT scholarship and graduate school of Bayreuth University supporting visits to BM, K and PR in 2015. We appreciate constructive review of the earlier version of this paper by Paul Berry (Michigan), and two anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

    Amir H. Pahlevani

  2. Department of Plant Systematics, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Sigrid Liede-Schumann

  3. Halophytes and C4 Plants Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Tehran, PO Box 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran

    Hossein Akhani

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  1. Amir H. Pahlevani
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  2. Sigrid Liede-Schumann
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Correspondence to Amir H. Pahlevani or Hossein Akhani.

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Online Resource 1. Presents the list of the SW Asian species of Euphorbia with their infrageneric, section and subsection position.

Online Resource 2. Presents the distribution maps of 247 Euphorbia taxa in SW Asia.

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Pahlevani, A.H., Liede-Schumann, S. & Akhani, H. Diversity, distribution, endemism and conservation status of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in SW Asia and adjacent countries. Plant Syst Evol 306, 80 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01705-4

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