Cousinia apiculata Tscherneva (1962: 91)

Mehregan, Iraj & Assadi, Mostafa, 2016, A synopsis of Cousinia sect. Pseudactinia (Cardueae, Asteraceae) including a new species from NE Iran, Phytotaxa 257 (3), pp. 271-279 : 274-275

2. Cousinia glochidiata Kultiasow (1929: 3)

Type:— TURKMENISTAN. Ahal Region: Mts. Kopet-Dagh, Mt. Aselma, Jakimova 1318 (TAK).

= Cousinia apiculata Tscherneva (1962: 91) , syn. nov. Type:— TURKMENISTAN. Ahal Region: Mts. Kopet-Dagh, between Cheirabad and Germakom, Vvedensky s.n. (TAK).

Life form perennial , 35–100 cm high, branched at the base. Stems woody and covered with the remnants of old withered petioles at the base, ended up to current year stems. Current year stems partially arachnoid, wooly, cream, branched near the apex, terminate to 2–6 capitulae. Basal leaves up to 18– 6 cm, oblong-lanceolate, attenuated at the base, wooly to sparsely wooly on both surfaces, dentate-lobed at the margin, distinctly nerved; stem leaves up to 12 cm long and 4 cm broad, lanceolate, gradually diminish in size toward the capitulum. Synflorescence paniculate. Capitulum solitary, 30–50 mm in diameter (including bracts). Involucre ca. 25 mm long, ca. 25–30 mm broad, spherical, arachnoid; involucral bracts 140–160, yellow and spiny at apex, without lateral teeth; outer and middle bracts up to 25 mm long, spreading to slightly recurved, subulate; inner bracts linear-subulate. Flowers ca. 100; corolla ca. 15 mm long, purple; tube and limb equal, 7–8 mm long; anther tube glabrous, purple. Achene not seen.

Taxonomic note: Examination of several herbarium specimens that match the descriptions of C. glochidiata and C. apiculata showed a continuous variation in the indumentum density as well as the morphology of bracts. Therefore, we assume that they represent the same species.

Distribution: Endemic to Kopetdagh, NE Iran and SW Turkmenistan ( Fig. 3 ).

Further specimens examined: — IRAN: Northern Khorassan Province: N of Shirvan, Saraani Mts. , 2200 m, 1 July 2001, Joharchi 33836 ( FUMH) ; Saraani Mts. , 2300 m, Joharchi & Mehdigholi 27664 ( TUH) ; Between Dareh- Gaz and Ghouchan , Ali-Bolagh Mts. , near Ali-Bolagh , 1900 m, 26 June 2002, Joharchi & Naseh 34305 ( FUMH) ; Bojnourd, Gifan , up to Mi-Si-No highs, 2000–2200 m, Rafieie & Zangouie 26140 ( FUMH) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Distribution of species belonging to C. sect. Pseudactinia (illustrated by I. Mehregan).