A review on the nectar scale characters in some species of Ranunculus in Iran

Ranunculus L. with about 600 species is the largest genus in the Ranunculaceae. Problems in the taxonomy of the genus are due to high variability and polymorphism among different individuals and populations of certain species. Morphological characters of nectar scale have been considered as valuable taxonomical characters in some perennial species in some groups (Praemorsa, Grumosa, Rhizomatosa). To find out significant differences in characters among populations of certain species and among different species Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed. In this study, herbarium specimens or fresh material were studied. Different shapes of nectar scale have been observed among populations of some species that is related to karyotype variability.