FOUR NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS COUSINIA CASS. (ASTERACEAE) FROM IRAN

Four new species of the genus Cousinia are described from Iran. C. barezica is based on a specimen collected from Barez mountain chains. The species belongs to the section Spinuliferae and related to C. longifolia and C. sicigera. It however, differs from both by having discolored leaves. C. isfahanica another new species from the section Rigidissimae is related C. rigidissima and C. auranti both from Afghanistan. This species has been based on a specimen collected from Isfahan, Semirom. C. maassoumii is described from adjacent localities of Delijan and Arak cities. It is from the section Pugioniferae and most closely related to C. macroptera but having different leaf and indumentum characters. C. pseudocandolleana is described based on specimen from Khorasan province. It is closely related to C. candolleana an endemic of Hamadan province, but differs from it by having stem and stem leaf characters.