Negaresh, Negaresh & Rahiminejad & Ranjbar, 2014

Negaresh, Kazem, Rahiminejad, Mohammad Reza & Ranjbar, Massoud, 2014, A taxonomic study on Centaurea sect. Rhizocalathium and C. sect. Pseudoseridia (Asteraceae, Cardueae-Centaureinae) in Iran, Phytotaxa 174 (1), pp. 43-60 : 51-56

2. Centaurea lasiorhiza Candolle (1838: 600) . Type :— IRAN. 1825, Bélanger s.n. (holotype G-DC!). Figs. 7 , 8 .

Centaurea ustulata Candolle (1838: 576) , nom. illeg., non Besser 1822. Type:— IRAN. Prov. West Azerbaijan: Orumiah, Szowits s.n. (holotype G-DC!, isotypes H!, K!, LE!, P!).

Centaurea ustulata Candolle var. phaeopappoides Bornmüller (1906: 169) . Type:— IRAN. Prov. Markazi: Sultanabad, in mountain Rasbend , August 1899, Strauss s.n. (lectotype JE!, designated here by Negaresh).

Centaurea ustulata Candolle var. caulescens Parsa (1948: 201) . Type :— IRAN. Hills above Gilashe, 2134 m, 28 May 1929, Cowan & Darlington 2483 (holotype K!).

Perennial plants with long woody rhizome, with 1–5(–8) capitula. Stems erect or ascending, simple or branched in median to upper parts, 4–35(–40) cm tall, covered with lanate or villous-articulate hairs. Leaves ± densely covered with pilose-articulate or mixed pilose and villous hairs, pinnatisect or interrupted pinnatipartite, segments linear, 1–3 mm wide, rarely lanceolate. Lower stem leaves petiolate, segments in 9–12 pairs, sometimes sublyrate, terminal segment slightly longer. Median stem leaves sessile, pinnatisect, segments in 6–8 pairs, linear or narrowly oblanceolate, 1–2 mm wide, acute at apex. Upper stem leaves reduced, sessile, pinnatisect or pinnatifid, segments in 3–4 pairs, linear, 1–2 mm wide, mucronate or hook-shaped at apex, usually shorter than involucres. Involucres ovoid, 15–20(–24) × 13–18(– 22) mm. Phyllaries multiseriate, coriaceous, pale green, ± loosely covered with villous hairs. Appendages triangular, dark brown to blackish, not concealing the phyllaries; with 2–5(–7) cilia on each side, 3–6 mm long, often reflexed; spine 3–6(–9) mm long, equal to the adjacent cilia or slightly longer. Flowers white or white creamy, in sicco sulfur; central florets hermaphrodite, 18–22 mm long, anther tube dark violet or purple; peripheral florets finely dissected, shorter than central florets, 4-lobed, lobes filiform or lanceolate-linear, 3.3–3.8 mm long. Achenes lanceolate-oblong, 5–6.3 mm long, 1.8–2.2 mm wide, yellowish, sometimes yellow-brownish, glabrous; hilum lateral, 1.1–1.5 mm long, hairy or glabrous. Pappus persistent, straw-coloured or pale brown, scabrous, 2–3(–4) mm long, innermost pappus hairs shorter than others.

Nomenclatural notes: —At first, the name Centaurea ustulata was validly published in 1822 by W. Besser. Later, A. de Candolle published a species under the same name in 1838, too. According to the Code (Principle III, Art. 6) (McNeill et al. 2011), Besser’s name has been accepted for a European species of C. stoebe group ( Centaurea sect. Centaurea ). For the species illegitimately named by Candolle another name, Centaurea lasiorhiza is restored from synonymy.

Taxonomic and distribution remarks: — Centaurea lasiorhiza is endemic to Iran and distributed in Azerbaijan, Kurdestan, Hamedan, Markazi and Qazvin Provinces, NW to W and N Iran ( Fig. 3 ). It is Irano-Turanian element and grows in steppes, on rocky slopes, clay slopes, in the low and mid-montane zones, at elevations of 1300–2030 m. Centaurea lasiorhiza is similar to C. vanensis in dissection of leaves, width of segments, and color of appendages and flowers, but differs well by capitula 1–5(–8)-cephalous (vs. 1-cephalous), stem erect or ascending, up to 40 cm long and branched (vs. acaulescent, up to 1.5 cm long and simple), involucres 13–18(–22) mm (vs. (20–) 24–28 mm) wide, and also cilia 2–5(–7) (vs. (4–)9–11) on each side.

Chromosome number: —Unknown.

Selected specimens examined: — IRAN. Prov. Azerbaijan: Azar Shar toward Ajab Shir, 15 km to Ajab Shir, 1368 m, Ranjbar & Negaresh 26475 (BASU!); Rezaiyeh, Rechinger 49340 (W!); 26 km NW Rezaiyeh toward Sero, 1600–1700 m, Rechinger 41992 (W!); S Goja Bel, Rechinger 40576 (W!); Talkheh Rud valley, 50–70 km E Tabriz, 1500 m, Rechinger 40533 (W!); 29 May 1971, Lamond 3695 (E!); SW Rezaiyeh, 1300–1400 m, 22 May 1963, Jacobs 6660 (E!); 24 km Rezaiyeh toward Mahabad, 1350 m, 22 May 1962, Furse 2210 (E!); after Azar Shahr to Maraqeh, 1470 m, 3 June 2004, Montazerolghaem 17277 (HUI!: two sheets). Prov. Kurdestan: 20 km to Bijar after Serish Abad, 1800 m, Ranjbar 13244 (BASU!); 8 km to Tekab, above the neck, 1750 m, 13 June 2012, Ranjbar & Negaresh 33054 (BASU!); Sanandaj, 1800 m, Jacobs 6930 (E!); the height of hills, SW Bijar, 2050 m, Montazerolghaem 17265 (HUI!). Prov. Hamedan: Ghorveh, 2000 m, Ranjbar 23752 (BASU!); toward Ghorveh, before Veynesar village, 1839 m, 16 May 2011, Ranjbar & Negaresh 24739 (BASU!); 10 km after Bovien and Miandasht, 2440–2500 m, 28 May 2004, Montazerolghaem 17261 (HUI!: three sheets); in mountain Alvand, 15 May 1895, Strauss s.n. (JE!) (syntype of C. ustulata var. phaeopappoides ). Prov. Qazvin: Karaj toward Vessieh valley, Rechinger 418 (W!). Prov. Markazi: near Gulpaigan, June 1899, Strauss s.n. (JE!) (syntype of C. ustulata var. phaeopappoides ); in mountain Latetar, 1899, Strauss s.n. (JE!) (syntype of C. ustulata var. phaeopappoides ); between Qum and Arak, in district Chaladschistan, May 1899, Strauss s.n. (JE!) (syntype of C. ustulata var. phaeopappoides ). Hills in band, 1524 m, 14 May 1929, Cowan & Darlington 2105 (K!: two sheets); Perse, Khent, 1825, Bélanger 452 (P!).

3. Centaurea rhizantha Meyer (1831: 64) . Type :— AZERBAIJAN. Talysh, 1829–1830, Meyer 522 (holotype LE!, isotypes G!, P!, TBI!). Fig. 9 .

Centaurea glaucescens Fischer & Meyer (1854: 31) . Type:— TURKEY. In Galatia orientali inter pagos Mandjulik et Deliktach in valle lapidosa, Tchihatcheff 685 (P!).

Centaurea grossheimii Sosn. in Sosnovsky & Mandenova (1949: 288). Type :— AZERBAIJAN. Nakhjavan , between landmark Alabad and spring Alma-bulag in Karagut (Karakush) Mts., 1800 m, on limestone schist plateau, 10 June 1947, Grossheim et al. s.n. (holotype LE!, isotypes LE!, TBI!).

Centaurea rhizanthoides Tzvelev (1963: 620) . Type :— ARMENIA. Sevan District , meadow-steppe stony slope toward Lake Sevan, 3–4 km NE of city of Sevan, 13 July 1957, Tzvelev & Czerepanov 875 (holotype LE!).

Perennial herbaceous, with woody rootstock (sometimes profusely branched). Capitula solitary, sessile or subsessile in a rosette of leaves. Stem up to 2 cm tall, very rarely longer. Leaves sparsely to densely covered with pilose-articulate and villous hairs, very variable in outline, often lyrate, terminal segment triangular or lanceolate, (1–)2–4(–5) cm wide, lateral segments smaller, in 1–3(–5) pairs, lanceolate, narrowly oblong or linear, sometimes entire and undivided, rarely pinnatipartite, or with a single lobe near base on each side. Involucres ovoid, 15–20(–23) × 10–15(–20) mm. Phyllaries multiseriate, coriaceous, glabrous. Appendages small, straw-coloured to light brown, narrowly triangular, sometimes reduced to a mere spinule; cilia l–4(–6) on each side, 1–3 mm long, erect; spine l–4(–5) mm long, usually longer than the adjacent cilia. Flowers yellow; central florets hermaphrodite, ca. 18 mm long; peripheral florets finely dissected, not radiant, ca. 24 mm long. Achenes oblong-lanceolate, smooth and shiny, yellowish, 5–6 mm long; pappus 1–2 mm long.

Taxonomic and distribution remarks:— Centaurea rhizantha is native in NW to NE Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan and also Turkmenistan ( Fig. 3 ). It is an Irano-Turanian element known from dry areas in the mid-montane zone. It grows on rocky and stony slopes, screes, meadows and in moist places of mountain steppes, at elevations of 900–3800 m ( Wagenitz 1975). Centaurea armena Boissier (1875: 676) from Turkey and Armenia is a species that shows a close relationship with C. rhizantha by its stem very short, leaves lyrate and with (l–)2–6 pairs of lateral segments. However, C. rhizantha differs from it in certain morphological characters such as involucres ovoid, 15–20(– 23) × 10–15(–20) mm (vs. subglobose, (20–)22–27 × (18–) 20–30 mm), appendages small (vs. large), and also cilia l–4(–6) on each side, 1–3 mm long (vs. (6–)8–12(–20) on each side, 2–5(–6) mm long).

In addition, C. sessilis Willdenow (1803: 2300) from Turkey and Armenia is another species that shows a close relationship with C. rhizantha . These two species share very short stems and similar involucres and indumentum of leaves. However, C. rhizantha differs from it by some characters such as capitula single (vs. single or more often 2–6 close together), leaves often lyrate (vs. pinnatipartite, pinnatifid to sublyrate), lateral segments of leaves in 1–3(–5) pairs (vs. (5–)7–15 pairs), and also cilia l–4(–6) (vs. (5–)7–9) on each side of appendages.

Chromosome numbers: — Garcia-Jacas et al. (1998) reported the chromosome number 2 n = 2 x = 16 + 0–6B for C. rhizantha collected from Armenia. This is the only report about the chromosome number of C. rhizantha .

Selected specimens examined: — IRAN. Prov. Gorgan: Kojur, mountain of Uloj, 3200–3400 m, Rechinger 6498 (W!). Prov. Azerbaijan: 70 km of Khoy to Chaldoran , 2200 m, Ranjbar & Negaresh 18462 (BASU!); Kuh Kani Ziarat N Habashi Bala near Qotur , 2300–3000 m, Rechinger & Renz in Rechinger 48806 (E!); above Qutor-Su, 2300–2800 m, 13 July 1971, Lamond 4697 (E!). Prov. Khorasan: Bajgiran, Cheshmeh-e Safar Agha, 1750–2000 m, 16 June 1981, Ghorashialhosseini 745G (FUMH!); between Shirvan and Esfarayen, 2100 m, 15 June 1998, Rafeie & Zangui 31604 (FUMH!); NW Ghochan, Galil region , 2100 m, 18 June 1995; Faghihnia & Zangui 25834 (FUMH!); Namanlu toward Takht-e Gulul N Shirvan , 2200 m, Rechinger 53284 (W!); 24 km S Bojnord toward Esfarayen , 1700–1800 m, Rechinger 53551 (W!); Gulul Sarani protected area, Kopet Dagh, 2100–2300 m, 12 June 1975, Rechinger 53378 (E!). Prov. Tehran: Shahr Bust, Abr (Kuh-e Ghatry) NE Shahrud, 2200–2600 m, Rechinger 56325 (W!). Prov. Semnan: Parvar protected region, in mountains between Shamirzad and Fulad Mahalla 68 km NE Semnan, 2200 m, Rechinger 52314 (W!) . TURKEY. A9 Kars: Konk, between Ardahan and Yalnizçam , 1950 m, 16 June 1957, Davis 29609 (E!). B5/6 Kayseri / Sivas: Kayseri to Sivas, 1200 m, Balls 1433 (E!). B6 Sivas: Maraş/ Malatya: Elbistan to Darende, Post 515 (E!). B7 Tunceli: Munzur Da. above Ovacik, 2200 m, 16 July 1957, Davis 31211 (E!). B9 Van: Kavuşşahap Da., 3200 m, Davis 23106 (E!). C9 Hakkari: Kale Mame supra Hoz, 2600m, Nábélek 3682 (BRA!). 10 Hakkari: Cilo Da., 3600 m, Davis 24195 (E!); Davis 24218 (E!) . IRAQ. Kurdestan. Prov. Arbil: in W mountain Algurda Dagh , 3000–3800 m, 10 August 1957, Rechinger 11419 (E!) .

4. Centaurea vanensis Wagenitz (1974: 223) . Type:— TURKEY. Van: 20 km from Hoşap to Başkale , Davis 44632 (holotype GOET!, isotypes E!, K!). Fig. 10 .

Perennial plants, rosulate with single sessile or subsessile capitula; stems up to 1.5 cm tall. Leaves ± densely covered with hirsute-articulate hairs, petiolate, outline broadly lanceolate, interrupted pinnatipartite, with numerous segments, linear, ca. 2 mm wide, mostly with undulate margins. Capitula solitary; involucres subglobose, (18–)20–22 × (20–) 24–28 mm. Phyllaries multiseriate, coriaceous, yellowish-green. Appendages rather large, but concealing only part of the greenish phyllaries, dark brown or blackish, broadly triangular, sometimes slightly decurrent, (3–)4–5 × 3–4 mm (without cilia and spine); palmately ciliate, cilia numerous, (4–)6–11 on each side, 3–5 mm long; spine 3–6 mm long, scarcely longer than the adjacent cilia. Flowers white creamy (in dry state yellow), anther tube pink. Achenes 4–4.5 mm long, hilum large. Pappus double, scabrous, 1.5–2.5 mm long; inner pappus hairs shorter, 0.5–1 mm long.

Taxonomic and distribution remarks: — Centaurea vanensis is a rare endemic to NW Iran and E Turkey, known only from the dry steppe zone ( Fig. 3 ). It is an Irano-Turanian element and also grows on stony slopes or in grasslands, at elevations of 1750–2750 m. This species has a narrower distribution than the other species of the section in Iran. It closely resembles C. lasiorhiza .

Chromosome number: —Unknown.

Selected specimens examined: — IRAN. Prov. Azerbaijan: beginning to Beduli village, 1929 m, Ranjbar & Negaresh 18375 (BASU!); Chaldoran to Keshmeshtappe, 2 km to Shad Loui Sofla, 2020 m, 24 April 2012, Ranjbar & Negaresh 30462 (BASU!). TURKEY. B 10 Van: 6 km from Özalp to Saray, 2250m, 5 June 1966, Davis 44289 (E!).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Distribution of C. rhizantha (1), C. vanensis (2), C. lasiorhiza (3), C. ispahanica subsp. ispahanica (4), C. ispahanica subsp. sirjanensis (5), and C. stevenii (6).

FIGURE 7. Centaurea lasiorhiza (Bélanger s.n., G-DC).

FIGURE 8. Centaurea lasiorhiza (A–C: Ranjbar & Negaresh 24739, BASU; D and E: Ranjbar & Negaresh 26475, BASU). A and D. close up of capitulum. B and E. habit. C. close up of leaf (indumentum).

FIGURE 9. Centaurea rhizantha (Meyer 522, G). Scale 2 cm.

FIGURE 10. Centaurea vanensis (Davis 44632, E). A. close up of capitulum. B. habit.