Author: آمنه غلامی 
Echinophora platyloba DC.
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Mohammad Reza Pahlavani, Nastaran Jalilian and Amene Gholami
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 elongated ellipsoid, lateraly slightly compressed, dorsal surface convex with 5 fine longitudinal ridges, ventral surface slightly concave, with distinct sap canals. Mericarp surface dull, brown
Fruit size: Length 5.13 to 5.87 mm, width 2.16 to 2.22 mm in an accession from Bisotun, Kermanshah, with a 1000 seed/fruit weight of 5.8 g, which was collected and identified in 2017 by Nastaran Jalilian, and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with the accession number 46676.
1000 seed/fruit weight: 5 to 11 g
Biological features
Life form: Herbaceous, perennial, spiny. Stem erect, with divergent branches, aromatic, cabbage-green, 20 to 55 cm long
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescence compound umbels, umbel with 1 to 5 rays, 2 to 15 mm long, equal or unequal, umbellule with about 6 flowers, petals indistinct, white or red. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects and wind.
Time of flowering: Late summer
Time of seed ripening: Late summer
Seed dispersal methods: By seed weight and wind
Geographical distribution: Endemic to Iran. Typus from around Tehran, Iran
Distribution in Iran: West, center and northeast. Mostly in Tehran and Kurdistan provinces
Taxonomy
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Echinophora
Species: E. platyloba
Persian name: Khusharizeh
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.
