Introducing a new variety of Centaurea pseudoscabiosa (Asteraceae) for Flora of Iran

The genus Centaurea is considered as the second largest genus belong to the Asteraceae family in Iran which has more than 100 species. Centaurea pseudoscabiosa is one of the most prominent species with the range of distribution in the northern and northwest of Iran. Based on Flora Iranica, this taxon includes two subspecies namely: subsp. pseudoscabiosa and subsp. armata. The later subspecies has appendages with longer spines and cilia than the former subspecies. Moreover, the second subspecies is endemic to Iran. During the taxonomic study of different populations of the subspecies armata, especially in samples from the Kurdistan province (Saqez - Marivan road), the distinctive features were seen including larger capitules and phyllary appendages with a spine curved to backward than other populations. According to these diagnostic characters and due to the review of the other herbarium specimens of subspecies armata, Centaurea pseudoscabiosa Boiss & Buhse subsp. armata Wagenitz var. squarrosa Negaresh, Ghanavati & Parishani was described here as a new variety for the flora of Iran. Its holotype and isotype specimens are deposited at the Herbarium of Khuzestan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University and Herbarium of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, respectively

Keywords:

Asteraceae , Centaurea pseudoscabiosa , New taxon , Iran