Author: آمنه غلامی 
Nepeta eremokosmos Rech. f.
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Hamideh Javadi, Leila Falah Hoseini and Amir Madah
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at December 2024
Scientific editor: Mohammad Dadmand
Seed Storage
The storage behavior of this species is orthodox (desiccation-tolerant seeds), dry to 15-20% eRH, and store at -20°C.
Germination requirements
The seeds of this species are not dormant. Sterilize seeds before placing them on wet germination paper. Place seeds for two weeks at 4 ºC to germinate uniformly. Then germinate under an alternating temperature regime of 15/20 ºC (the higher temperature for 16 hours in light and the lower one for eight hours in dark).
Morphology
Fruit type: Achene
Fruit shape: Eelliptic, bi-convex, areole two oblique lobs, 0.4 to 0.5 mm long. Surface glabrous, lustrous, black to dark brown
Fruit size: Length 1.49 to 1.79 mm, width 0.65 to 0.75 mm in an accession from Sorkheh, Semnan, with 1000 seed/fruit weight 0.5 g, which was collected in 2019 by Amir Madah identified with an accession number of 47273.
Average 1000 seed/fruit weight: 0.5 g
Biological features
Life form: Annual, herbaceous, woody at base. Stems decumbent, height 14 to 40 cm, pubescent
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescence head-like; flowers zygomorphic, calyx gamosepalous, tubular, 6 to 8 mm in long, 2-lipped, upper lip 3-toothed, lower lip 2-toothed; corolla gamopetalous, 8 to 10 mm in long, 2-lipped, upper lip 2 separated lobs, lower lip 3-lobed. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects, especially bees.
Time of flowering: Summer
Time of seed ripening: Summer
Seed dispersal methods: By seed weight
Geographical distribution: Endemic to Iran. Typus from Semnan
Distribution in Iran: Center. Mostly in provinces Semnan and Tehran
Taxonomy
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Nepeta
Species: N. eremokosmos
Persian name: Punesa-e tajkorki
References and Links
Black, M. and Bewley, J.D. 2000. Seed technology and its biological basis. Sheffield Academic Press, 1-419 P.
Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of seeds and fruits of central and East-European flora: the Carpathian Mountains region. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1046 P.
Ghahraman, A. Flore of Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands with University of Tehran Publication.https://floraofiran.net/index.php.
Jamzad, Z. 2012. Lamiaceae. No.76. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands publishers, Tehran, 1066 P.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 1998. Dictionary of Iranian plants names. Farhange Moaser Publishers, Tehran, 671 P.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 2012. A Pictorial dictionary of botany. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 1088 pp.
Sharma, O.P. 2009. Plant taxonomy 2E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi, 563 pp.
