Rhaponticoides, Vaillant, 1754

Negaresh, Kazem, Khoshroo, Sayed Mohammad Reza, Karamian, Roya & Joharchi, Mohammad Reza, 2015, A revision of Rhaponticoides (Asteraceae, Cardueae-Centaureinae) from Iran, Phytotaxa 213 (2), pp. 87-101 : 89

Key to the species of Rhaponticoides in Iran

1. Involucres 25–35 × 25–35 mm; appendages large, concealing the major part or the whole of phyllaries........................................2

- Involucres 20–25 × 14–20 mm; phyllaries without appendages or with narrow scarious margin.....................................................3

2. Basal and lower cauline leaves lyrate or lyrate-pinnatifid, sometimes entire, segments in 2–6(–7) pairs, terminal segment 5–8 cm wide; appendages of median phyllaries 5–10 mm wide; pappus 10–13 mm long.......................................................... R. lachnopus

- Basal and lower cauline leaves entirely pinnatisect, segments in 6–8(–9) pairs, terminal segment (1.5–) 3–5 cm wide; appendages of median phyllaries 14–16 mm wide; pappus 5–7 mm long ............................................................................................ R. schmidii

3. Basal and lower cauline leaves with 12–15 pairs of segments, margin regularly denticulate or cartilaginous-denticulate; involucres ovoid; scarious margin of phyllaries ca. 0.5 mm wide..................................................................................................... R. ruthenica

- Basal and lower cauline leaves with 7–8 pairs of segments, margin usually entire, sometimes remotely inconspicuously dentate; involucres cupuliform; scarious margin of phyllaries 1–2.5 mm wide ......................................................................... R. bachtiarica