Cephalaria bojnordensis Ranjbar & Z. Ranjbar (2015: 174)

Ranjbar, Massoud & Ranjbar, Zahra, 2017, A taxonomic revision of Cephalaria subgen. Cephalaria sect. Atrocephalae (Caprifoliaceae) from Iran, Phytotaxa 311 (2), pp. 101-138 : 104

2. Cephalaria bojnordensis Ranjbar & Z. Ranjbar (2015: 174) .

Type:— IRAN. Prov. Khorasan: SW Bojnord Reen, Topalraie village , 37º 29 ʹ N, 57º 02 ʹ E, 1950 – 2050 m, 7 June 2006, Memariani, Zangooei & Arjmandi 37924 ( FUMH!, holotype; isotype FUMH, photo and fragment BASU) .

Perennial, erect, slender herbs. Stem simple, up to 75 cm, unbranched, pubescent to rather glabrous above. Leaves slightly coriaceous, pilose on both surfaces. Lower cauline leaves petiolate (ca. 2 cm), more or less entire, oblanceolate, ca. 12 × 2.4 cm, subacute at apex, serrate, with ca. six teeth in one side, 0.8–1.2 mm; angle of teeth with reference to the midrib ca. 45º. Middle cauline leaves lyrate, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 12.5–13 × 0.8–1.5 cm, with 6 lateral segments; lateral segments linear-oblong, 1–4.5 × 0.2–0.7 cm, entire, acute at apex; terminal segment larger than lateral ones, lanceolate or oblong to lanceolate, 10.5–11.5 × 1.5–1.8 cm, acute at apex, serrate, with ca. six teeth in one side, 1–1.5 mm long, angle of teeth ca. 30º–45º; midrib of adaxial leaf lamina prominently raised but inconspicuous at end; secondary nerves not raised. Leaves not present at upper region of stem. Peduncle ca. 55 cm long, glabrous. Capitula globose or ovoid, ca. 2.2 cm in diameter in flower, subradiant. Involucral bracts in two series, ovate, 4.8–5 × 2.5–3 mm, obtuse at apex, green, blackish at apex, tomentose; hairs up to 2 mm long. Receptacular bracts in six series, rhombic to narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 6–9 × 3–4 mm; spine 1–1.5 mm long, blackish, straw-coloured at base on dorsal surface, acute or acuminate at apex (1–1.5 mm long), pilose or sericeous, ciliate at margins. Calyx cupuliform, 1–1.2 × 1.5 mm, pubescent, with irregular teeth 1–1.5 mm long. Corolla 10–12 mm long, yellow, densely covered with appressed hairs outside; stamens slightly longer than corolla; anthers deeply yellow. Involucel 2.5–3 × ca. 1.5 mm in flower, 4-angled, hairy, with 4 long and 4 short teeth at apex; long teeth 2–2.5 mm long, short teeth 0.5–1 mm long.

Additional specimens examined:— IRAN. Khorasan-e Shomali: Bojnord, between Meidan and Takht e Mirza village , 2 Jul 1986, Joharchi & Zangooei 14728 ( FUMH!) ; Faruj, 48 km to Oghaz Taze village , 37° 26 ʹ N, 58° 14 ʹ E, 1950–2050 m, 16 Jun 2009, Memariani & Zangooei 43095 ( FUMH!) ; Faruj, Kuran Kordieh vellage, 37° 25 ʹ N, 58° 16 ʹ E, 1550–1575 m, 7 Jun 2009, Memariani & Zangooei 42895 ( FUMH!) .

Distribution and habitat: — Cephalaria bojnordensis occurs in Bojnord (Reen), a mountainous region located in the north-facing slopes in central parts of Aladagh Mts. in North Khorasan province, NE Iran. The species grows on stony, gravel and rocky soils at elevations of 1950–2050 m. It is phytogeographically an Irano-Turanian element.

Taxonomic notes: — Cephalaria bojnordensis is the only caulescent species of C. sect. Atrocephalae in Iran. It is similar to C. microcephala in some characters such as petiole length of basal leaf, middle leaf shape and number of segments or lobes, leaf margin, capitula size, involucel teeth, involucral bracts size and shape. However, it differs in stem branches, basal leaf dissection and leaf teeth angle (with reference to the midrib), middle leaf terminal segment length, peduncle length, involucral and receptacular bracts colour.