A New Record of Helichrysum chionophilum Boiss. & Bal. (Asteraceae) in Iraq

Helichrysum chionophilum Boiss. & Bal. is a new addition to the Asteraceae family in Iraq, from Qandil mountain (north-east of Erbil) within Rowanduz district (MRO). Identification and morphological study have been conducted, these clarified by graphs. In addition, some characters of the pollen grains have been studied such as shapes, colors, sizes, numbers and surface sculpture.


Introduction
Asteraceae is one of the plant families that found in Iraq, which included 22750 species throughout the world and distributed on 1528 genera [1]. In Iraq involves 382 species distributed on 49 genera [2]. In Turkey, [3] stated 16 species of the genus involving H. chionophilum. In Europe, [4] mentioned that 16 species of the genus Helichrysum present. [5] indicated that 20 species of the genus found in Iran. [6] in the Flora of low land Iraq stated 1 species. While [2 and 7] mentioned 5 species in Iraq. [8] mentioned 1 species in Pira magrun mountain. [9 and 10] indicated that 2 species of the genus present in Sinjar and Hawraman mountains respectively. [11] did not mention any species of the genus Helichrysum in Haibat Sultan mountain. In all the available references, the researcher did not find any species refer to H. chionophilum, therefore it will be regarded as a new record in Iraq.
Compared to the number of species included, the family is of lesser economic importance. Common valuable ornamentals include species of Aster, Dahlia, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, Helichrysum, Tagetus and Zinnia. A few food plants include Lactuca (lettuce), Cynara (artichoke), Helianthus (sunflower oil), and Cichorium (chicory, added to coffee). Safflower a red dye is obtained from Carthamus tinctorius. Latter is now more commonly cultivated for its seeds yielding safflower oil, used in cooking. Chrysanthemum cinerariefolium is the source of natural insecticide pyrethrum [12].
The study assumes the presence of H. chionophilum in Iraq and to study the morphological characters with some pollen grains characters, to add some information to the Flora of Iraq.

Materials and Methods
Plant specimens have been collected within the field trips in the different regions of northern districts of Iraq in 2016, during spring and summer seasons. Identification of the specimens has been done by using of some keys especially in Flora of Turkey, the specimens were treated herbarially to become formal specimens, and placed in herbarium of Education College -University of Salahaddin, Erbil (ESUH). Kruss dissecting microscope has been used in the examining of the collected seven plant specimens that belong to H. chionophilum. The geographical distribution of the species was cleared with the fixation of some ecological notes, and a map (figure 1) was placed. For the pollen grains, anthers fixed in FAA (Formalin-glacial acetic acid-ethyl alcohol) solution, then a single anther removed and placed in a drop of water or 50% glycerol (the latter to prevent the material from drying out), and dissected with a scalpel to extrude the pollen grains; the anther wall material removed and a cover slip applied. Then, the pollens stained with safranin [1].

Environment notes
The plant was found as individuals within the area, in the rocky soils; altitude: 2800-2850 m; flowering: July-September. Present in Qandil mountain within Rowanduz district (MRO). Erbil, Iraq (ARB) and College of Education Herbarium, University of Salahaddin -Erbil, Iraq (ESUH), the researcher did not find any species refer to H. chionophilum, therefore it will be regarded as a new record in Iraq from Qandil mountain.
H. chionophilum has some characters differ from the close species which is H. pallasii (Sprengel) Ledeb. that present in Iraq, and these characters involve that the plant base forming hard mats, with densely white, lanate-felted hairs, caudex branched, basal leaves oblanceolate-spathulate, flowering stems unbranched, ascending sterile shoots not swollen at base. Inflorescence a hemispherical or oblong-ovoid capitulum, inner row of phyllaries oblanceolate or oblanceolate-linear. Identification, morphological study was conducted, these clarified by graphs. In addition, pollen grains were yellow, single, tricolporate, spheroid in equatorial view, triangular-spheroid in polar view, small, numerous and surface sculpture echinate. According to [16] the pollen grains of the species H. pallasii had tricolporate and tetracolporate apertures, oblate-spheroidal shape, medium size, as well as echinate surface sculpture.