Five new species of Astragalus sect. Malacothrix (Fabaceae) from Iran

Five new Astragalus species from section Malacothrix Bunge, namely, A. musaianus Maassoumi & Joharchi sp. nov., A. neo-iranshahrii Maassoumi & Amini Rad sp. nov., A. pseudocomosus Maassoumi, F. Ghahrem. & Bagheri sp. nov., A. subaspadanus Maassoumi, F. Ghahrem. & Bagheri sp. nov. and A. takabensis Maasoumi & Maroofi are described and illustrated. These are endemic from different parts of Iran. New species are compared with their nearest relatives.