Centaurea amadanensis subsp. ranjbarii Negaresh, 2018

Negaresh, Kazem & Rahiminejad, Mohammad Reza, 2018, A revision of Centaurea sect. Cynaroides (Asteraceae, Cardueae-Centaureinae), Phytotaxa 363 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

3c. Centaurea amadanensis subsp. ranjbarii Negaresh , subsp. nov. ( Fig. 12 )

Centaureae amadanensis subsp. gymnocladae affinis , appendicibus phyllorum breviter triangularibus or breviter ovatis, denticulatis (nec acutis vel mucrone brevi, integro), floribus roseis (nec albidis) differt.

Type:— IRAN. Prov. Kermanshah: Kermanshah toward Ravansar, 5 km to Ravansar , near vineyard, 1380 m, 14 June 2012, Negaresh & Ranjbar 33186 (holotype BASU!, photo herb. Negaresh) .

Capitula ca. 5, arranged in raceme; involucres 35–40 × ca. 35 mm; phyllaries with denticulate appendages; appendages shortly triangular or shortly ovate, 2–4 × 2–5 mm; flowers pink, anther tube pink, peripheral florets few; achenes oblong, 6–7 mm long; pappus 13–14 mm long.

Taxonomic and distribution remarks: — Centaurea amadanensis subsp. ranjbarii is a rare endemic of W Iran and grows on margins of vineyards and fallow fields ( Fig. 5 ). It is differentiated from the other subspecies of C. amadanensis by having pink flowers and denticulate appendages ( Fig. 12 ). Centaurea amadanensis subsp. ranjbarii is the only record with pink flowers from C. amadanensis complex.

Etymology:—The specific epithet is given in honour of Dr. M. Ranjbar who collected the subspecies.

Chromosome numbers: —Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Distribution of Centaurea amadanensis subsp. amadanensis (circles), C. amadanensis subsp. gymnoclada (squares), and C. amadanensis subsp. ranjbarii (triangles).

FIGURE 12. Centaurea amadanensis Schultz Bipontinus subsp. ranjbarii Negaresh (Negaresh & Ranjbar 33186, BASU). A. habit. B. close up of capitule. C. leaves. Scale A and C = 5 cm, B = 1 cm.