Author: آمنه غلامی 
Nepeta cephalotes Boiss.
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Masoumeh Ramezani Yeganeh and Mohammad Reza Pahlevani
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at Dec 2023
Scientific editor: Masoumeh Izadpanah
This Seed ID was supported by the Headquarters of Science and Technology of Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine
Seed Storage
The storage behavior of this species is orthodox (desiccation-tolerant seeds); dry to 15-20 % eRH and stored at -20 °C.
Germination requirements
The seeds of this species are non-dormant. Sterilize seeds before placing them on wet germination paper. Then germinate under an alternating temperature regime of 15/25 ºC (the higher temperature for 16 hours of light and the lower one for 8 hours of dark).
Morphology
Fruit/seed: Achene
Fruit/seed shape: Nutlets ellipsoid, areole bi-lobed, surface almost soft with incident reticulate, dark brown
Fruit/seed size: Length 1.71-1.8 mm, and width 0.98-1.06 mm in an accession from Damavand, Tehran with 1000 seed/fruit weight 0.4 g, which was collected and identified in 2016 by Mozaffarian with an accession number 45889.
Average 1000 seed/fruit weight: 0.4 g
Biological features
Life form: Perennial, subshrub, many-stemmed, stems erect to ascending
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanisms: Inflorescence verticillasters composed of a few small flowers or many large flowers. Flowers hermaphrodite, zygomorphic, corolla pale blue, 12 to 16 mm in length. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects, especially bees.
Flowering Period: Summer
Time of seed ripening: August to October
Seed dispersal methods: Seed weight
Geographical distribution: Endemic to Iran. Typus from Iran
Distribution in Iran: Center and North West Azarbayjan, Semnan, and Tehran
Taxonomy
Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Nepetoideae
Genus: Nepeta
Species: cephalotes
Persian name: Punehsa-e-Coppee
References and Links
Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of seeds and fruits of central and East-European flora: the region of the Carpathian Mountains. Springer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, 1046 pp.
Ghahraman, A. Flore of Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands with the university of Tehran publication. https://floraofiran.net/index.php.
Harrington, J.F. 1972. Seed storage and longevity. In: T. Kozlowski (ed.). Seed Biology. Vol. III. Academic Press, New York, p 145-245.
Hassan, T. and Dar, G.H. 2012. Nutlet micromorphology in selected species of Nepeta L. (Lamiaceae) in Kashmir Himalaya. Iranian Journal of Botany, 2: 262-269.
Jamzad, Z. 1391. Flora of Iran, No. 76: Lamiaceae. Agricultural Research, Education and Promotion Organization, Research Institute for Forests and Rangelands of Iran, Tehran, 1066 p.
Jamzad, Z., Ingrouille, M. and Simmonds, M. 2003. Three new species of Nepeta (Lamiaceae) from Iran. Taxon, 52: 93-98.
Kaya, A. and Dirmenci, T. 2008. Nutlet surface micromorphology of the genus Nepeta L. (Lamiaceae) in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Botany, 32.103-112.
Mozaffarian, V. 2012. A Pictorial Dictionary of Botany. Farhang Moaser publisher, 1088 pp.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 1998. Dictionary of Iranian Plants Names. Moaser Publisher, Tehran Farhang, 671 pp.
Naghibi, F. 2005. Labiatae family in folk medicine in Iran from ethnobotany to pharmacology. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2: 63-79.
Sharma, O.P. 2009. Plant taxonomy 2E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi, 563 pp.
