Author: آمنه غلامی 
Matthiola ovatifolia (Boiss.) Boiss.
Masoumeh Izadpanah, Amene Gholami and Mohammad Amini Rad
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at february 2026
Scientific editor: Parvin Salehi Shanjani
Seed Storage
The storage behavior of this species is orthodox (desiccation-tolerant seeds), dry to 15 to 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: Silique, dehiscent
Fruit shape: Broad linear, moniliform, apex round, dark olive-colored
Fruit size: Length 90 to 140 mm, width 3 to 4 mm
Seed shape: Broad ovoid, winged. Surface wrinkled, glabrous, slightly shiny, brown, wing membranous
Seed size: Length 3.24 to 3.56 mm, width 2.53 to 2.64 mm in an accession from Tehran, with 1000 seeds weight 1.59 g, which was collected and identified in 2018 by Mohammad Amini Rad, and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with the accession number 46859.
Average 1000 seed weight: 0.9 to 3.6 g
Biological features
Life form: Perennial, herbaceous, pubescent. Stem erect, branched from the base, 28 to 51 cm long
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescence lax raceme; flowers hermaphrodite, regular; gamosepalous, sepals are about 10 to 12 mm long; polypetalous, petals linear-oblong, apex rounded, dentated at the margin, 25 to 28 mm long, color yellowish-green to brown. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects and wind.
Time of flowering: Spring
Time of seed ripening: Late spring
Seed dispersal methods: Wind
Geographical distribution: Endemic to Iran. Typus from around Isfahan
Distribution in Iran: Northwest, Center and Northeast. Mostly in provinces Mazandaran, Isfahan, Kohgiluyeh & Boyer‑Ahmad, Bakhtiari, Khorasan, Semnan and Tehran
Taxonomy
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Matthiola
Species: M. ovatifolia
Persian name: Chalipai-e moatar, Chalipai-e isfahani
References and Links
Assadi, M. Sajedi, S. Fakhr Ranjberi, H. Mirzadeh Vaghefi, S. Moazzeni, H. Khodashenas, M. Khosravi, A. R. Hatami, A. Mehrnia, M. Kaffash, Sh. Heidarnia, N. Sheidai, M. Heidari Rikan, M. Kavousi, K. Sonboli, A. Veiskarami, Gh. And Aminian, F. 2017. Flora of Iran, Brassicaceae, No.143. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Iran, 954 pp.
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.
Sharma, O.P. 2009. Plant taxonomy 2E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi, 563 pp.
