taxonID	type	description	language	source
836F1A24FFC9FFA2FF0BFE22FEADF7F8.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: — Centaurea dezfulica is similar to C. pabotii but differs by its densely hispid indumentum (vs. sparsely hirsute-articulate or subglabrous), stems 45 – 50 cm high (vs. up to 60 cm), upper cauline leaves 3 – 7 × 0.3 – 0.7 cm (vs. 5 – 9 × 0.4 – 0.7 cm), upper cauline leaves decurrent for 2 – 3 mm (vs. sessile), median cauline leaves 14 – 16 × 2 – 4 cm (vs. 10 – 18 × 2 – 3 cm), lower cauline leaves lateral segment oblong-lanceolate (vs. lanceolate), incised (vs. dentate), 7 – 8 segments (vs. up to 10 segments), basal cauline leaves 23 – 26 × 6 – 10 cm (vs. 10 – 17 × 15 – 30 cm), 6 – 10 segments (vs. 10 – 12 segments), incised (vs. dentate or lobate), involucres 20 – 23 × 10 – 20 mm (vs. 12 – 18 × 17 – 22 mm), phyllaries obtuse (vs. acute), appendage 2 – 3 mm long (vs. 1 – 2 mm long), spinule 1 – 2 mm long (vs. 0.2 – 0.4 mm long), central florets up to 22 mm long (vs. up to 28 long), achene 2 – 3 mm long (vs. 5 – 6 mm long). Typus: — IRAN. Khuzestan, Dezful, Dez Dam, 32 ° 38 ’ 27 ’’ N, 48 ° 27 ’ 13 ’’ E, 340 m, 29 July 2014, M. Ranjbar 36632 (holotype: BASU). Perennial plant, with thickened rootstock, up to 45 – 50 cm tall, green or pale green throughout. Stem upright, in lower part densely hispid. Stems many, erect to ascending, often branched in lower to upper parts striate striped, many branched, lateral branches 14 – 28 cm long bearing a few small leaves and ending in a capitulum, 1 – 2 mm in diam. at the base, cylindrical, sometimes ascending, often branched at the base, or branched in median part, thinly white striate, rigid, densely leafy throughout. Leaves and stem densely hispid-tomentose, venation actinodromous at basal and lower cauline leaves. Basal cauline leaves pinnatipartite-pinnatilobate or pinnatifid, 23 – 26 × 6 – 10 cm, terminal segments larger, lanceolate-linear, lateral segments 6 – 10 pairs, lanceolate-linear; segments sometimes lobed near the base, acute at apex, margin incised. Lower cauline leaves pinnatipartite-pinnatilobate or pinnatifid, 22 – 28 × 8 – 10 cm, terminal segments larger than lateral one, oblong-lanceolate, lateral segments 7 – 8 pairs, oblong-lanceolate; segments sometimes lobed near the base, acute at apex, margin incised. Median [lower] cauline leaves pinnatipartitepinnatilobate or pinnatifid, 14 – 16 × 2 – 4 cm, decurrent for 10 – 15 mm, margin incised, venation reticulate. Median [upper] cauline leaves sessile, simple oblong-lanceolate, 13 – 15 × 1 – 1.5 cm, acute to acuminate at apex, decurrent for 15 – 20 mm, perfoliate, margin dentate. Upper cauline leaves sessile, simple, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 3 – 7 × 0.3 – 0.7 cm, shortly decurrent for 2 – 3 mm, acuminate at apex, venation parallel, margin entire. Capitula numerous, arranged in a corymb, usually somewhat removed from the base of capitula. Involucres subconical, contracted towards top, diamond, 20 – 23 × 10 – 20 mm. Phyllaries multiseriate, imbricate, coriaceous, yellowish or green, hairy. Outer phyllaries ovate, 4 – 10 mm long. Median phyllaries ovate to oblong 8 – 12 mm long. Inner phyllaries obtuse, 14 – 15 mm long. Appendages forming a minute deciduous tip, not decurrent, not concealing basal part of phyllaries, fringed in the upper part or with 1 – 2 pairs of cilia on each side, 1 mm long, spine triangular, 1 – 2 mm long, longer than the nearest cilia. Flowers yellowish pale green; central flowers hermaphrodite, up to 22 mm long; peripheral sterile, not radiant, limb lobes linear. Achene lanceolate-oblong, 2 – 3 mm long. Pappus multiseriate, scabrous, the outer 5 – 7 mm long, the inner much shorter.	en	Ranjbar, Massoud, Askari, Ali, Mohammadi, Somayeh (2021): Two new species of Centaurea sect. Microlophus (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Iran. Phytotaxa 480 (2): 125-138, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2
836F1A24FFC9FFA2FF0BFE22FEADF7F8.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The specific epithet refers to Dezful city, where the new taxon was found. Phenology: — Flowering March to May. IUCN Red List category: — Centaurea dezfulica is known from a few small populations, consisting of no more than five plants, observed in claystone and flat terrain around the Dez dam (M. Ranjbar, pers. obs.). According to the IUCN Red List criteria (IUCN 2001), this species could be classified as Critically Endangered (CRD). This category includes taxa in which fewer than 50 mature individuals exist.	en	Ranjbar, Massoud, Askari, Ali, Mohammadi, Somayeh (2021): Two new species of Centaurea sect. Microlophus (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Iran. Phytotaxa 480 (2): 125-138, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2
836F1A24FFC9FFA2FF0BFE22FEADF7F8.taxon	distribution	Distribution and habitat: — The new species is known only from the clay soils (Fig. 6). It is distributed at lower altitudes (340 m) in Khuzestan province compared to the other related species (Table 1). This taxon is restricted to south-western Iran and is endemic to the Irano Turanian floristic region. Centaurea dezfulica occurs with Anchusa strigosa, Convolvulus stachydifolius, Klasea khuzistanica, Onosma albo-roseum, Salvia syriaca, and Verbascum pseudodigitalis.	en	Ranjbar, Massoud, Askari, Ali, Mohammadi, Somayeh (2021): Two new species of Centaurea sect. Microlophus (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Iran. Phytotaxa 480 (2): 125-138, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2
836F1A24FFCFFFA4FF0BFF68FDF4F947.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: — Centaurea kuhdashtensis is similar to C. koeieana but differs by hispid (vs. arachnoid) hairs, upper cauline leaves decurrent for 3 – 10 mm (vs. 2 – 7 mm), lower cauline leaves 35 – 38 × 10 – 11.5 cm (vs. 15 – 17 × 2 – 3.5 cm), median [lower] cauline leaves pinnatipartite- pinnatilobate or pinnatifid (vs. lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong), margin entire-dentate (vs. irregularly dentate or entire), segments lower cauline leaves 15 – 17 pairs (vs. no segment), basal cauline leaves 44 – 46 × 13 – 15 cm (vs. 15.5 – 17 × 2 – 3 cm), basal cauline leaves pinnatipartite-pinnatilobate or pinnatifid (vs. oblong lyrate or pinnatilobate), basal cauline leaves 14 – 15 pairs (vs. 1 – 2), margin basal cauline leaves irregular dentate (vs. dentate or lobate), involucres 10 – 16 × 5 – 7 mm (vs. 15 – 18 × 5 – 8 mm).	en	Ranjbar, Massoud, Askari, Ali, Mohammadi, Somayeh (2021): Two new species of Centaurea sect. Microlophus (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Iran. Phytotaxa 480 (2): 125-138, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2
836F1A24FFCFFFA4FF0BFF68FDF4F947.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — IRAN. Lorestan, Bolouran to Baba Zeyd, 65 km to Baba Zeyd, 35 km to Kuhdasht, 33 ° 33 ’ 22 ’’ N, 47 ° 18 ’ 01 ’’ E, 1504 m, 1 May 2013, M. Ranjbar 33645 (holotype: BASU). Perennial plants with thickened rootstock, usually completely green up to 80 cm tall, in the lower part loosely covered with hispid hairs. Stem erect, often branched above, sometimes branched in the median to upper parts striate striped, many branched, usually striped, 1 – 3 mm in diam. at base, cylindrical. Sometimes ascending, branched often at the base, or branched in median part, thinly white striate, rigid densely leafy throughout. Leaves and stem loosely hispid, venation actinodromous at basal and lower stem leaves. Basal cauline leaves pinnatipartite, pinnatilobate or pinnatifid, 44 – 46 × 13 – 15 cm, terminal segments larger, lanceolate-linear, lateral segments 14 – 15 pairs, lanceolate-linear, segments sometimes lobed near the base, acute at apex, margin irregular dentate. Lower cauline leaves pinnatipartite to pinnately divided, odd pinnate in outline, 35 – 38 × 10 – 11.5 cm, terminal segments larger, oblong-lanceolate, lateral segments 15 – 17 pairs, oblong-lanceolate, segments sometimes lobed near base, acute at apex, margin dentate. Median [lower] cauline leaves pinnatipartite, pinnatilobate or pinnatifid, odd pinnate in outline, 10 – 13 × 3 – 5 cm, margin entire dentate, decurrent for 15 – 20 mm, margin dentate, venation reticulate. Median [upper] cauline leaves sessile, simple oblong-lanceolate, 9 – 10.5 × 0.8 – 0.9 cm, acute to acuminate at apex, decurrent for 40 – 50 mm, perfoliate, margin entire. Upper cauline leaves sessile, simple, oblong to oblong-lanceolate in outline, 1 – 3 × 0.3 – 0.5 cm, shortly decurrent for 3 – 10 mm, acuminate at apex, venation reticulate, margin entire. Involucres conical contracted towards top, diamond, 10 – 16 × 5 – 7 mm. Phyllaries multiseriate, imbricate, coriaceous, yellowish or green, hairy. Outer phyllaries ovate, 3 – 5 mm long. Median phyllaries ovate to oblong 6 – 8 mm long, spine 1 mm long. Inner phyllaries oblong, 10 – 12 mm long. Appendages forming a minute deciduous tip, not decurrent, outer phyllaries deciduous, inner phyllaries persistent, always small, not concealing the basal part of phyllaries. Flowers yellowish-green; central flowers hermaphrodite, up to 14 mm long; peripheral sterile, not radiant, limb lobes linear. Achene oblong, 1 – 2 mm long. Pappus multiseriate, scabrous, the outer 3 – 6 mm long, the inner much shorter.	en	Ranjbar, Massoud, Askari, Ali, Mohammadi, Somayeh (2021): Two new species of Centaurea sect. Microlophus (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Iran. Phytotaxa 480 (2): 125-138, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2
836F1A24FFCFFFA4FF0BFF68FDF4F947.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The specific epithet refers to Kuhdasht city, near which the type specimens were collected. Phenology: — Flowering March (second half) to May.	en	Ranjbar, Massoud, Askari, Ali, Mohammadi, Somayeh (2021): Two new species of Centaurea sect. Microlophus (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Iran. Phytotaxa 480 (2): 125-138, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2
836F1A24FFCFFFA4FF0BFF68FDF4F947.taxon	distribution	Distribution and habitat: — Centaurea kuhdashtensis occurs in Kuhdasht area, a mountainous region in western Lorestan province, Iran. Phytogeographically it is an Irano-Turanian element and grows in dry clay, stony slopes and screes, at 1400 – 1600 m (Fig. 6). IUCN Red List category: — Centaurea kuhdashtensis is known from a few small populations, consisting of no more than five plants, observed in the mountains between Bolouran and Baba Zeyd village (M. Ranjbar, pers. obs.). According to the IUCN Red List criteria (IUCN 2001), this species could be classified as Critically Endangered (CR). This category includes taxa in which fewer than 50 mature individuals exist. In recent years, several morphological and molecular studies have been done on this section (Garcia-Jacas et al. 2006). The evaluated morphological characters were most suitable for separating Centaurea dezfulica from C. pabotii and C. kuhdashtensis from C. koeieana (Table 1).	en	Ranjbar, Massoud, Askari, Ali, Mohammadi, Somayeh (2021): Two new species of Centaurea sect. Microlophus (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Iran. Phytotaxa 480 (2): 125-138, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.480.2.2
