Author: آمنه غلامی 
Hertia angustifolia (DC.). O. kuntze
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Bahare Afsharnezhad and Hossein Batuli
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at october 2025
Scientific editor: Masoumeh Izadpanah
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 have non-deep dormancy. 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: Sub-cylindrical, slightly curved towards the base, apex truncate, pappus longer than the achene, white-colored, hilum basal. Surface pubescent, dull, cream-colored
Fruit size: Length 5.16 mm to 6.26 mm, width 1.94 mm to 2.38 mm in an accession from Kashan, Isfahan, with 1000 seed/fruit weight 6.4 g, which was collected and identified in 2020 by Hossein Batuli and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with the accession number of 48129.
Average 1000 seed/fruit weight: 6.5 to 18 g
Biological features
Life form: Perennial, suffrutescent, globrous. Stems ascending, 25 to 35 cm long
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescences corymb-like, capitulum radiate (disc-ray), florets yellow or white; involucre cup-shaped, involucral bracts uniseriate, involucral bracts arrangement free. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects.
Time of flowering: Spring
Time of seed ripening: Summer
Seed dispersal methods: By wind and animals
Geographical distribution: Exclusive to Iran. Typus from Iran, between Tehran and Isfahan
Distribution in Iran: Center and South. Mostly in Yazd, Bakhtiari, Fars, Kerman and Tehran provinces
Taxonomy
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Hertia
Species: H. angustifolia
Persian name: Kerghich-e bargbarik
References and Links
Assadi, M., Mehregan, I. 2017. Flora of Iran, No. 125: Asteraceae, Cousinia. Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Iran, 396 pp.
Black, M. and Bewley, J.D. 2000. Seed technology and its biological basis. Sheffield Academic Press, 1-419 pp.
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 pp.
Ghahraman, A. Flore of Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands with University of Tehran Publication. https://floraofiran.net/index.php.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 1998. Dictionary of Iranian plants names. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 671 pp.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 2012. A Pictorial dictionary of botany. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 1088 pp.
Mozaffarian, V., Ghahremaninejad, F., Narimisa, S., Kazempour-Osaloo, Sh., Jafari, E., Lotfi, E. Assadi, M. 2018. Flora of Iran, Asteraceae. Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Iran, Publication No. 144, 1023 pp.
Sharma, O.P. 2009. Plant taxonomy 2E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi, 563 pp.
