Taxonomy of the wild species of genus Crataegus (Rosaceae): An updated review for the flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijan)

Abstract

We clarified the current state of genus Crataegus L. in the flora of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijan) using a comparative analysis of herbarium specimens from the Azarbaijan herbariums and data collected during the expeditions in 2004–2018. We succeed in adding some important data on the flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Azerbaijan, we also enhanced the previous research with chromosome and morphological analysis. We identified 17 wild species of Crataegus genus in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (C. pentagyna Waldst. et Kit. ex Willd., 1800, C. zangezura Pojark., 1939, C. orientalis Pall. ex Bieb., 1808, C. pojarkoviae Kossych, 1964, C. tournefortii Griseb., 1843, C. szovitsii Pojark., 1939, C. pontica C. Koch, 1853, C. meyeri Pojark., 1939, C. eriantha Pojark., 1939, C. atrosanguinea Pojark., 1939, C. caucasica C. Koch, 1853, C. pallasii Griseb., 1843, C. rhipidophylla Gand. (С. curvisepala Lindm.; C. kyrtostyla Pojark.) 1871, C. pseudoheterophylla Pojark., 1939, C. monogyna Jacq., 1775, C. x armena Pojark., 1939, and C. x cinovskisii Kassumova), which will contribute to five introduced cultural species used in the greenery. We also clarified the status of interserial and intersection hybrids using the chromosome and morphological analysis. The article includes the complete list of Crataegus L. species with information about synonyms of the species, patterns of distribution, habitat, latitude and elevation, flowering and fruiting phenology.