TABLE 1. A in Muscari zagricum (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a unique new species from Iran

TABLE 1. A comparison of selected characters differing among Muscari zagricum, M. pseudopallens and M. pallens.
M. zagricumM. pseudopallensM. pallensBulb2.5–3 × 1.5–2.5 cm, without offsets1.5–2.5 × 1–2.2 cm, with or without offsets1.2–2.5 × 1–2 cm, without offsetsOuter tunics colordull browndark browndark brownLeaves3–4 per scape, declined, linear, falcate, not tapering at base, distinctly canaliculate, 14–16 × 0.2–0.5 cm, apex acute2–8 per scape, adpressed on the ground, at maturity twisted, falcate or patent, linear to narrowly linear-lanceolate, not tapering at base, distinctly canaliculate, 5–15 × 0.1–0.5 cm, apex subacute to acute2–4 per scape, erect to erecto-patent, linear and enlarged upward or oblanceolate and tapering at the base, not twisted, slightly canaliculate to straight, 5–17 × 0.2–0.5 cm, apex subacute, hoodedScape1–2 per bulb, 10–12 cm long in flower, slightly elongating in fruit, shorter than leaves1–3 per bulb, 4–10 cm long in flower, shorter or equal than leaves or rarely longer1–2 per bulb, 5−20 cm long in flower, equaling or slightly shorter or longer than leavesRacememoderately lax, cylindrical, 2.1–2.7 × 1–1.3 cm in flower, not elongating in fruit and fruiting raceme remaining dense and compactdense, oblong-ovoid, 1–2.5 × 0.8–1.5 cm in flower, elongating and lax in fruitdense, short and located at the tip, oblong-ovoid, 1.2–2.2 × 1–1.8 cm in flower, fruiting raceme remaining compact, often as broad as longPedicels of fertile flowers1–2 mm long, not elongating in fruit1.5–3 mm long, elongating to 6 mm in fruit1–3 mm long, elongating to 6 mm in fruitFertile flowersobovoid-campanulate and urceolate at tip, 3–4 × 1.5–3 mm, shouldered and with longitudinal grooves, slightly constricted (orifice 1–2 mm), dull white and sometimes slightly suffused with mauve, and prominently darkening in dried flowers; lobes c. 1 mm long, dark violet, erect to slightly recurvedglobose-urceolate, 3–5 × 2–3 mm, not shouldered, without longitudinal grooves, constricted distally (orifice 1–1.5 mm), in dull shades of white, azure, ice-blue or violet-blue at maturity, dried flowers do not darken, but dry in white or bluish colors; lobes c. 1 mm long, white, recurvedcylindrical-campanulate to tubular-campanulate, 3–5 × 2–3 mm, not shouldered and not constricted (orifice 1.5–2.5 mm), without longitudinal grooves, white or azure suffused with violet, dried flowers do not darken, but dry in white or bluish colors; lobes c. 1 mm long, white, erect to slightly recurvedStamens arrangementattached at and above middle of tubeattached at and above middle of tubeattached below middle of tubeCapsuleoblate, not or slightly emarginate, with strongly compressed valves, 3–5 × 6–8 mmobovoid to obovoid-globose, not or slightly emarginate, valves somewhite compressed, 3–6 × 4–6 mmoblate, emarginate, valves somewhite compressed, 4–6 × 5–8 mmFlowering timeJanuaryApril–MayApril–JuneHabitatsteppes at 700–750 m a.s.l.steppes and stony slopes at 1650–1750 m a.s.l.alpine and subalpine meadows, on grassy or stony slopes at 1000–2300 m a.s.l.