Author: آمنه غلامی 
Echinophora cinerea (Boiss.) Hedge & Lamond
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Mohammad Reza Pahlavani, Yaqoub Iranmanesh and Hamzehali Shirmardi
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 are dormant. Sterilize seeds before placing them on wet germination paper. Place seeds for two weeks to two months at 4 ºC to germinate uniformly. Then germinate under an alternating temperatures of 20 ºC (16 hours of light) and 15 ºC (8 hours of darkness).
Morphology
Fruit type: Schizocarp, an indehiscent dry fruit that consists of one not compressed carpel called mericarp
Fruit shape: Mericarp subellipsoid, not compressed, dorsal side convex with 5 filiform ribs, ventral side partially concave, with visible vittae, apex with stylopodium and a remnant of the style. Surface pubescent, dull, brown, with cream-colored ribs
Fruit size: Fruit size: Length 4.81 to 5.97 mm, width 2.03 to 2.27 mm in an accession from Yasuj, Kohkiluyeh and Boyerahmad, with a 1000 seed/fruit weight of 21 g, which was collected and identified in 2017 by Yaqoub Iranmanesh and Hamzehali Shirmardi, and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with the accession number 46768.
1000 seed/fruit weight: 15 to 21 g
Biological features
Life form: Subshrub, Perennial, pubescent. Stems ascending, numerous, 40 to 80 mm long
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescence compound umbel in panicle, umbels numerous, with 5 to 9 rays, 5 to 10 long, unequal, umbellule with 10 to 20 pedicl, 0 to 4 mm long, unequal, flowers yellow. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects and wind.
Time of flowering: Summer
Time of seed ripening: Summer
Seed dispersal methods: By seed weight and animals
Geographical distribution: Endemic to Iran. Typus from Dena Mountain, Iran
Distribution in Iran: West and center. Mostly in Lorestan, Kohkiluyeh, and Boyer-Ahmad provinces
Taxonomy
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Echinophora
Species: E. cinerea
Persian name: Khusharizeh-e ulufee
References and Links
Black, M. and Bewley, J.D. 2000. Seed technology and its biological basis. Sheffield Academic Press, 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. 2008. Flora of Iran, Umbelliferae. Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Iran, Publication No. 54, 592 pp.
Sharma, O.P. 2009. Plant taxonomy 2E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi, 563 pp.
