TWO NEW SPECIES OF COUSINIA CASSo SECT. PUGIONIFERAE BUNGE(ASTERACEAE, CARDUEAE), FROM EAST AND SOUTHEAST OF IRAN

Cousinia ghahremanii and C. longibracteata are described and illustrated as new species from southeast and east ofIran. These species belong to the sect. Pugioniferae Bunge based on the habit, shape of capitula and bracts, corollacolor, decurrent leaves and subcorymbose synflorescence. The related species to C. ghahremanaii is C. calcitrapavar. calcitrapa which distinguishing characters of the two species are: number of flowers and bracts, size ofcapitula,length of corolla and shape of basal leaves. C. longibracteata based on morphological characters and geographicaldistribution is distinct from the other species of sect. Pugioniferae, but the closest species to it is C. macropterawhich distinguish it by long cylindric bracts, length ofcorolla, number of flowers and bracts.