A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF COUSINIA, SECT. CYNAROIDES (ASTERACEAE, CARDUEAE) IN THE FLORA OF IRAN

In this study, a taxonomic revision of the genus Cousinia Cass. sect. Cynaroides Bunge for the flora of Iran is presented. Ten new species, C. shiraziana, C. denaensis, C. lurestanica, C. ardalensis, C. pasargadensis, C. sahandica, C. gaharensis, C. silvanica, C. arakensis and C. kurdestanica are described and illustrated. Cousinia anoplophylla, C. mozaffarianii, C. lactiflora, C. shulabadensis, C. aligudarzensis, C. zardkuhensis, C. disfulensis, C. jacobsii, C. kermanshahensis, C. kirrindica, C. mobayenii, C. eriocephala, C. zagrica, C. qaradaghensis, C. grantii, C. shebliensis, C. rhombiformis, C. phyllocephala, C. khorramabadensis, C. iranica, C. straussii, C. hamadanensis, C. fursei, C. millefontana, C. caroli-henrici, C. sardashtensis, C. kornhuberi, C. elwendensis, C. ecbatanensis, C. parsana , C. farsistanica, C. perspolitana, C. khansaricus, C. stroterolepis, C. sefidiana, C. sabalanica, C. behboudiana, C. nana, C. sanandajensis, C. dalahuensis, C. bornmulleri and C. monocephala are known as distinct species comparing to the last published revision of the section. A complete description of C. lordeganensis is also given. An identification key to all Iranian taxa, description of all species including some data on type materials, synonyms and distribution are provided. The photographs of capitulum, achenes and bracts of some species are given in order to provide an exact comparison between the species. Based on the present study the number of the species of the section in Iran is 77 which among them 66 taxa are endemic to Iran.