NOTES ON THE TAXONOMY OF COUSINIA SECT. HAUSSKNECHTIANAE (ASTERACEAE; CARDUEAE)

Taxonomy of Cousinia sect. Haussknechtianae is revised. The species belonging to this section have limited distribution in high mountainous areas of C, SW and W Iran, and NE Iraq. Due to their late flowering time and remote mountainous areas of distribution, they are poorly known. Thanks to the examination of extensive collections from Zagros mountain range in recent years, species of C. sect. Haussknechtianae are now better known. In this paper three new species, i.e. C. komidjanensis from C Iran, C. curvibracteata from SW Iran and C. rawanduzensis from NE Iraq are described as new to science. A short diagnosis, an English description and an image of holotypes for each of these three new species are given. According to the results, C. sect. Haussknechtianae includes overall eight species endemic to Iran and N Iraq. A synopsis of all species belonging to this section, an identification key to the species and a map of distribution of species are given. In addition, C. hergtiana is here lectotypified.