Jurinea stenocarpa (Asteraceae, Cardueae), a new species from the north-west of Iran

Jurinea stenocarpa, is described as a new species based on morphological characters. This species is a mountainous Irano-Turanian element distributed in the north-west of Iran, -the Azarbaijan region. Specimens of this species were collected from Aqdagh (type location) and Talesh Mountains in Ardabil Province, Pir-Saqqa Mountain in Eastern Azarbaijan Province. The taxonomic position of the new species is assessed using sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal ITS region, and the findings are discussed based on a morphological background as well. The new species is morphologically close to its sympatric species, J. heterophylla by having linear-lanceolate simple and more or less entire leaves, but differs mostly in the form of inflorescence and shape and status of phyllaries. The new species also has similarities to its allopatric species J. monocephala, mainly by having semi-globose involucre and scapose stems, but differs in plant indumentum, the shape of phyllaries and features of achenes and size of pappus rays. Description, photos and a distribution map for the new species and closely related species are presented.