Taxonomic notes on Onobrychis sect. Onobrychis subsect. Macropterae (Fabaceae) from Iran

A key, descriptions and new findings are given for Onobrychis sect. Onobrychis subsect. Macropterae, which occurs in the area covered by the flora of northeastern Iran (Khorasan Province). Onobrychis patula and O. mucronifolia are described as new species and are illustrated. These are perennial herbs, becoming woody at base and have long wings, the standard as long as the keel, and pods densely covered with gray appressed hairs or rarely glabrous. The relationships between the new species and their closest relatives are discussed. Onobrychis patula represents a spreading hairy habit, while the plants of the other species have appressed hairs. Onobrychis mucronifolia has large leaflets distinctly mucronulate at the apex, which can thus easily be distinguished from the other species of the subsection. It differs from O. verae by its height, bract length, number of flowers and leaflet indumentum.