Taxonomic position of Centaurea stapfiana(Asteraceae)

The genus Centaurea L. is one of the largest genera of the family Asteraceae and due to wide distribution and diversity of its species has much taxonomic confusion especially on the section level. Centaurea stapfiana (Hand. -Mazz.) Wagenitz is an Irano-Turanian element and from the point of taxonomic position is controversial. Through an examination of relevant taxonomic literature and morphological study of herbaria specimens were done to identify the exactly taxonomic position of this species. Russian botanists were described a new genus namely Chrysopappus Takht. for this taxon. Recently, molecular studies by nuclear marker (ITS) were rejected the generic status of Chrysopappus and supported the reverse of this species in genus Centaurea. In Flora Iranica and Flora of Turkey, C. stapfiana was placed under the section Phaeopappus (DC.) Hoffmann. The present study showed that this species is easily distinguished from other species of above section by having capitula arranged in a raceme, involucres < 15 mm wide, appendages entire or irregularly denticulate and without close relatives. The recent molecular studies also supported present morphology data that C. stapfiana is separated from the section Phaeopappus and it is an independent species in the genus Centaurea. So, based the recent molecular studies and the present morphology research, it considered a new combination section, i.e. Centaurea sect. Chrysopappus (Takht.) Negaresh comb. & stat. nov., as an exact taxonomic position for C. stapfiana here

کلیدواژه ها:

New combination ، Morphology ، Taxonomy ، Centaurea stapfiana