Cephalaria kleinii Ranjbar & Ranjbar (2017: 75)

Ranjbar, Massoud & Ranjbar, Zahra, 2017, A taxonomic revision of Cephalaria subgen. Cephalaria sect. Atrocephalae (Caprifoliaceae) from Iran, Phytotaxa 311 (2), pp. 101-138 : 115-116

8. Cephalaria kleinii Ranjbar & Ranjbar (2017: 75) .

Type:— IRAN. Prov. Mazandaran: W of province, canter of Alborz mountains, near Chalus, around Ki-Kuh (sheepfold Djirtchal) and Firuzabad , 36º 20 ʹ N, 51º 23 ʹ E, 2680 m, 18 July 1973, Klein s.n. (E!, holotype; photo BASU!) .

Herbs perennial, erect. Stem up to 60 cm high, single, 10 mm in diam., unbranched, loosely to sparsely pubescent, thinly white and green-striate, 1.5–2 mm in diam. in middle part. Leaves slightly coriaceous, opposite, blades symmetrical, leaves green-brownish when dried and pubescent on adaxial surface, greyish and puberulent on abaxial surface, hairy only along midrib (hairs 1–1.2 mm long). Basal leaves petiolate (petiole 4–6 cm long); pinnatipartite, oblong-elliptic in outline, 17–18 × 9–10 cm, with ca. 8 segments; lateral segments oblong-elliptic, 5–7 × 1.5–2.5 cm, pubescent, acute at apex, decurrent at base, dentate, 20–24 teeth (apical side straight, basal side flexuous), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 30º–40º, teeth 1–2 mm long, secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate, terminal segment 12–15 × 5–5.5 cm; acute at apex, asymmetrical at base, dentate (serrate), ca. 35 teeth (apical side straight, basal side flexuous), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 45º–50º, teeth 1–3 mm long, midvein flat adaxially, rounded abaxially, secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate. Cauline leaves pinnatipartite, oblong to oblong-lanceolate in outline, 20–21 × 5–6 cm, with 8–10 lateral segments; lateral segments oblong-lanceolate, 3–8 × 1–3 cm, hairy at margins (ca. 1 mm), acute at apex, decurrent at base, serrate, 20–28 teeth (apical side straight, basal side flexuous to straight), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 30º–45º, teeth 0.5–1 mm long, moderately acuminate at apex; secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate, terminal segment larger than lateral ones, lanceolate or oblong to lanceolate, 10–13 × 2.5–3 cm, moderately acuminate at apex, dentate, 30–35 teeth (apical side straight, basal side flexuous), angle of teeth ca. 45º–60º, teeth 1.5–2 mm long, midvein impressed to flat adaxially, flat abaxially, secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate. Upper leaves pinnatipartite, oblong to lanceolate in outline (or immature), 14–15 × 5–6 cm, with ca. 8 lateral segments; lateral segments oblong-lanceolate, 2–5 × 0.8–1.5 cm, abruptly acuminate at apex, decurrent at base, dentate, 4–8 teeth (apical side straight, basal side straight to flexuous), angle of teeth ca. 50º–60º, teeth 0.5–1.5 mm long; terminal segment larger than lateral ones, lanceolate, 10–10.5 × 2.3–2.5 cm, abruptly acuminate at apex, dentate, asymmetrical at base, ca. 30 teeth (apical side straight, basal side concave), angle of teeth ca. 30º–50º, teeth 0.5–1.5 mm long, midvein impressed to flat adaxially, flat abaxially, secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate. Peduncle 5–15 cm long, pubescent. Capitula semiglobose, 1.5–1.8 × 0.7–1.7 cm in diameter in flower, solitary. Involucral bracts in one series, ovate-triangular, 6–6.5 × ca. 6 mm, blackish-coloured dorsally, with villous hairs up to 0.5–1.5 mm long, obtuse to subacuminate at apex. Receptacular bracts in 5–6 series, sublanceolate-acuminate 10–12 × 2.5–5.5 mm, spine 1–1.5 mm long, whitish with brown strips, blackish and abruptly acute or acuminate at apex, pilose or sericeous, ciliate at margins, recurved distally in fruit. Calyx cupuliform, 1.5–2 × 1.5 mm, dark green, pubescent, with irregular teeth 1–2 mm long. Corolla 10–10.5 mm long, yellow, densely covered with appressed hairs outside, stamens slightly longer than corolla, anthers deeply yellow. Involucel ca. 4.5–5 × 1.5 mm in flower, 4-angled, hairy (hairs up to 0.2 mm long), 4 long and 4 short teeth at apex; longer teeth ca. 2.5 mm long, shorter teeth ca. 1.5 mm long.

Additional specimens examined:—Only known from the type collection.

Taxonomic notes:— Cephalaria kleinii is similar to C. kotschyi in cauline leaves dissection and shape of teeth, involucral and receptacular bract shape, but differs in plant height, stem diameter, size and shape of leaves, apex of lateral and terminal segments and size of cauline leaves, peduncle length, size of capitula, and number of series and indumentum of receptacular bracts.

Distribution and habitat:— Cephalaria kleinii occurs in Mazandaran province, center of Alborz Mts., near Chalus, around Ki-Kuh (sheepfold Djirtchal) and Firuzabad valley. It grows on north-facing slopes in central parts of Alborz Mts., N Iran. The species occurs in the subalpine region, on stony and rocky soils at an elevation of 2670 m. It belongs phytogeographically to the Hyrcanian area and exists in the Quercus macranthera community ( Acer hyrcani- Quercetum macrantherae Klein & Lacoste 1989).