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Alpine habitats are characterized by a high rate of range restricted species compared to those of lower elevations. This is also the case for the Irano-Anatolian global biodiversity hotspot in South-West Asia, which is a mountainous area harbouring a high amount of endemic species. Using two quantitative approaches, Endemicity Analysis and Network-Clustering, we want to identify areas of concordant species distribution patterns in the alpine zone of this region as well as to test the hypothesis that, given the high proportion of endemics among alpine species, delimitation of these areas is determined mainly by endemic alpine species, i.e., areas of concordant species distribution patterns are congruent with areas of endemism. Endemicity Analysis identified six areas of concordant species distribution patterns irrespective of dataset (total alpine species versus endemic alpine species), whereas the Network-Clustering approach identified five and four Bioregions from total alpine species and endemic alpine species, respectively. Most of these areas have been previously identified using the endemic flora of different elevational zones. The identified units using both methods and both datasets are strongly congruent, proposing that they reveal meaningful distribution patterns. Bioregionalization in the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot appears to be strongly influenced by the endemic alpine species, a pattern likely to hold in alpine regions outside the Irano-Anatolian hotspot.

Hedysarum is the second largest genus of the tribe Hedysareae (Fabaceae), in Iran. Considering the rising number of species in Iran, a taxonomic revision of the genus is provided, except for a Hedysarum wrightianum group. As a complementary treatment, a diagnostic key to the species and detailed morphological descriptions are supplied. Based on the reliable molecular phylogeny and morphological evidence in the current study, the taxonomy of some species of H. subsect. Crinifera was re-examined. H. criniferum var. melanotrichum with 1-2 segmented, large, elliptic-semi ovate pods, is raised to the species rank as H. melanotrichum. Also, a new variety of H. atropatanum, (var. glabrum) with pods without setae, is introduced from the type locality. Furthermore, some species were synonymized including H. longipedunculatum with H. fallacinum, H. persicum with H. papillosum, H. orumiehense with H. criniferum, H. bojnordense with H. kopetdaghi, H. elbursense with H. hyrcanum as well as H. kalatense and H. johartchii with H. balchanense. According to the present study, the flora of Iran consists of H. armenium, a representative of H. sect. Hedysarum, and 31 species from H. sect. Multicaulia.

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Aim The mountainous regions in SW Asia harbour a high number of endemic species, many of which are restricted to the high‐elevation zone. The (sub)alpine habitats of the region are under particular threat due to global change, but their biodiversity hotspots and conservation status have not been investigated so far. Location Subalpine‐alpine habitats of SW Asia. Methods Distribution data of all (sub)alpine vascular plant species of the region were compiled, resulting in 19,680 localities from 1672 (sub)alpine species, the majority of them being restricted to the region (76%). Six quantitative indices of species diversity were used on the basis of 0.5° × 0.5° grid cells to identify (sub)alpine hotspots. Hotspots whose surface area in the (sub)alpine zone was covered by nature reserves maximally by 10% were defined as conservation gaps. Results A high proportion (80%) of the endemic species of the study area is range‐restricted and narrowly distributed. The results of all six indices were highly correlated. Using the top 5%, 10% and 20% richest cells supported by any index, 32, 53 and 98 cells, respectively, were identified as Hotspots. Almost 60% of these Hotspots at all three levels were identified as unprotected (i.e. constituted Conservation Gaps). Generally, only 22%, 18% and 16%, respectively, of the alpine surface area of the identified Hotspots were covered by nature reserves for the top 5%, 10% and 20% richest cells, respectively. Main conclusions Although the rate of protection in (sub)alpine Hotspots exceeds that of the entire region it is still insufficient, because these Hotspots are much richer in endemic and in range‐restricted species, but at the same time are under high pressure of global change. Therefore, the establishment of new nature reserves with high conservation efficiency in (sub)alpine habitats with a particular focus on the identified Hotspots is strongly recommended.

This is the first study to systematically evaluate rRNA secondary structures of Hedysareae with an emphasis on Hedysarum. ITS2 and 5.8S regions of the genus shared a common secondary structure with a four-fingered central loop, whereas ITS1 possessed five distinct structures. The secondary structural features of the two regions provided advantageous data for clades, species groups, and closely related species. Hemi-CBCs were mostly observed in the reconstruction of species groups, and Nsts, mostly between closely related species. The investigations showed that ITS1 varied more than ITS2 in length, GC content, and most of the diversity indices within the tribe. Maximum likelihood analyses of the synchronized sequence-structure tree of ITS1 were performed. The accuracy and phylogenetic signals of ITS1 were higher than ITS2. The similar GC content, and no CBC, in both spacers, fortified the close relationship of CEGO and H. sections Stracheya and Hedysarum clades in the synchronized sequence-structure tree topology of ITS1. In both regions, no inter-generic CBCs were detected inside the CEGO clade and the inter-sectional level of Hedysarum. But, in the ITS2 region, a CBC was detected between H. section Multicaulia, and Taverniera versus H. sections Hedysarum, and Stracheya. The lowest inter-sectional genetic distance and structural features were found between H. sect. Hedysarum and H. sect. Stracheya clades in the ITS2 region.

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