Type:— IRAN. Prov. Tehran: in northern sloping hill of Dudera (Taleqan) Alborz mountain, Kotschy 422a (MO! [MO5259409!], lectotype designated by Ranjbar & Ranjbar (2017: 79); isolectotypes: G!, E!, W).

Perennial, erect, robust. Stem up to ca. 50 cm, 8 mm in diam., two-stemmed (fertile and sterile), pubescent to sparsely hairy, thinly straw-coloured and brown-striate. Leaves slightly coriaceous, opposite, blades rather symmetrical, leaves green-brownish when dried, pubescent on both surfaces, hairy only at margins (1–2 mm). Lower cauline leaves petiolate (up to 12 cm); simple, oblong-lanceolate in outline, 14–15 × 6–8 cm, acute at apex, serrate to dentate (serrate), ca. 45 teeth (apical side straight, basal side straight to flexuous), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 45º–90º, teeth 1–1.5 mm long, midvein impressed adaxially, rounded abaxially, secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate. Middle cauline leaves pinnatisect-pinnatipartite, oblong to ovate in outline, 19–20 × 6–7.5 cm, with 6–8 slightly decurrent lateral segments; lateral segments oblong-linear, 2–5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, hairy at margins (ca. 1 mm), acute at apex, serrate, 2–10 teeth (apical side straight, basal side flexuous to straight), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 30º–60º, teeth 0.5–1 mm long, acute at apex; terminal segment larger than lateral ones, lanceolate or oblong to lanceolate, 16–17 × 2.5–3 cm, acute at apex, dentate, 30–32 teeth (apical side straight, basal side straight to flexuous), angle of teeth ca. 45º–70º, teeth 0.5–1 mm long, midvein impressed to flat adaxially, flat abaxially, secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate. Upper cauline leaves pinnatisect-pinnatipartite, oblong to oblong-lanceolate in outline, 4–14 × 4–6 cm, with 4–10 lateral segments; lateral segments oblong-lanceolate, 1–2.5 × 0.3–0.8 cm, hairy at margins (ca. 1 mm), acute at apex, serrate, 6–10 teeth (apical side straight, basal side straight), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 30º–45º, teeth 0.5–1 mm; terminal segment larger than lateral ones, lanceolate or oblong to lanceolate, 4–10 × 1–2.2 cm, acute at apex, dentate, 8–22 teeth (apical side straight, basal side straight to flexuous), angle of teeth ca. 30º–50º, teeth 0.7–1.5 mm long, midvein impressed to flat adaxially, rounded abaxially, secondary veins reticulate, tertiary veins reticulate. Peduncle 2–30 cm long, pubescent to glabrous. Capitula globose to subglobose, 1–3 × 1–2 cm in diameter in flower, subradiant, solitary. Involucral bracts in one series, ovate-subrhomboid, 7–7.5 × 3–3.5 mm, blackish dorsally, with villous hairs up to 1–2 mm long, obtuse at apex. Receptacular bracts in 7–9 series, sublanceolate-acuminate 8–14 × 2.5–4.5 mm, spine 1–1.5 mm long, whitish with brown strips, blackish and abruptly acute or acuminate at apex, pilose or sericeous, ciliate at margins, recurved distally in fruit. Calyx cupuliform, 1.5–2 × 1.5 mm, dark green, pubescent, with irregular teeth 1–2 mm long. Corolla 10–10.5 mm long, yellow, densely covered with appressed hairs outside, stamens slightly longer than corolla, anthers deeply yellow. Involucel ca. 4.5–5 × 1.5 mm in flower, 4-angled, hairy (hairs up to 0.2 mm long), 4 long and 4 short teeth at apex; long teeth ca. 2.5 mm long, short teeth ca. 1.5 mm long.

Additional specimens examined:— IRAN: Tehran: Plor, 1250–1300 m, Dini & Arazm 700 (TARI); near Damavand mountain, Hor, 2500 m, Assadi & Mozaffarian 33234 (TARI).

Taxonomic notes:— Cephalaria kotschyi is similar to C. procera in stem branches, basal leaves dissection, shape of basal and cauline leaves venation, colour of involucral and receptacular bracts, but differs in stem height and indumentum, shape of lateral segment of lower and cauline leaves, indumetum and shape of involucral bracts.

Distribution and habitat:— Cephalaria kotschyi is distributed in Iran and Turkey. In Iran it is extremely rare and restricted to the mountainous area in central Alborz. This area has an average annual precipitation 300–400 mm and the average annual temperature 16.7 ºC. Cephalaria kotschyi as an Irano-Turanian element and grows in sun-exposed steppe slopes.