Enigmatic genus Haussknechtia (Umbelliferae): systematic relationships based on molecular and carpological data

After its description in 1872 on the basis of incomplete C. Haussknecht's collections without mature fruits the genus Haussknechtia remains a true botanical enigma in Iranian flora. As late as 1980s Iranian botanists repeated H. elymaitica gatherings in Zagros Mts and found some new localities. The new sheets have mature fruits and green leaves. This allowed to check the systematic position of Haussknechtia based both on morphological (carpological) and molecular (ITS sequences) data in comparison with all putatively related taxa. Both kinds of data showed a good correlation. Earlier hypotheses on Haussknechtia affinity with Oenanthe, Seseli, Dorema, Aethusa and Opopanax have been rejected. The Iranian endemic Demavendia and Irano‐Turanian endemic Zeravschania were found to be the closest relatives of Haussknechtia.