Cephalaria procera Fischer & Ave-Lallemant 1841

Type:— TURKEY. Anatolia. Juldis Dagh, Wiedemann s.n. (LE! [LE 01010061!], lectotype designated by Lack (1991: 14)). Fig. 10.

Perennial, erect, rather robust.Stem up to 100–150 cm, single, few-branched, consisting of 1–2 racemes, rather glabrous, sulcate, thinly white and green-striate. Leaves slightly coriaceous, opposite, blades asymmetrical, leaves green when dried, more or less tomentose on both surfaces. Lower cauline leaves petiolate (0–2 cm), lyrate-pinnatisect, oblong-elliptic in outline, 28–32 × 14–15 cm, round at apex, with 4–5 decurrent segments; lateral segments elliptic, 8–10.5 × 2.5–4 cm, tomentose, acute at apex, serrate, 16–22 teeth (apical side straight, basal side straight to flexuous), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 45º–70º, teeth 1–1.3 mm long, terminal segment 9–12 × 4–7 cm; serrate to dentate (crenate), 36–40 teeth (apical side straight, basal side concave to flexuous), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 30º–45º, teeth 1–1.5 mm long, midvein impressed adaxially, rounded abaxially, secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate. Middle cauline leaves petiolate (4–5 cm); lyrate-pinnatisect, oblong-oblanceolate in outline, 17–30 × 4.5–6 cm, with ca. 6 decurrent lateral segments; lateral segments linear-lanceolate, 3.5–7 × 0.8–2 cm, tomentose, acute at apex, serrate, 8–20 teeth (apical side straight, basal side straight), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 30º–45º, teeth 0.5–1 mm long, acute at apex; terminal segment larger than lateral ones, lanceolate or oblong to lanceolate, 7.5–8 × 2–2.5 cm, acute at apex, dentate, 16–36 teeth (apical side straight, basal side flexuous to concave), angle of teeth ca. 30º–50º, teeth 1–5 mm long, midvein impressed to flat adaxially, flat abaxially, secondary veins pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate. Peduncle 4–13 cm long, glabrous. Capitula globose, 1.5–2.5 (–3) × 1.2–1.5 cm in diameter in flower, subradiant, solitary. Involucral bracts in 1–2 series ovate-subrhomboid, 8–9.5 × 4.5–5 mm, straw-coloured dorsally at base, blackish at apex, tomentose hairs up to 2 mm long, obtuse at apex. Receptacular bracts in five series, sublanceolate-acuminate, 12–12.5 × 3.5–5 mm, spine 1–1.5 mm long, straw-coloured dorsally at base, blackish and abruptly acute or acuminate at apex, pilose or sericeous, ciliate at margins, recurved distally in fruit. Calyx cupuliform, 1.5–2.5 × 1.5 mm, dark green, pubescent, with irregular teeth 1–1.5 mm long. Corolla 10–11 mm long, yellow, densely covered with appressed hairs outside, stamens slightly longer than corolla, anthers deeply yellow. Involucel ca. 0.8 × 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 mm long, short teeth ca. 0.5 mm long.

Additional specimens examined: — IRAN. Prov. Ardabil: Road of Asalem to Khalkhal, Almas neck, 2150 m, Wendelbo & Assadi 18423 (TARI).

Taxonomic notes: — Cephalaria procera is similar to C. gigantea in plant height, leaf dissection and receptacular and involucral bracts colour, but differs in its stem indumentum, shape of lower leaves, capitula size in flower, size of corolla and involucel (Table 2).

Distribution and habitat: — Cephalaria procera is an Irano-Turanian element and distributed in NW Iran,Caucasia, Armenia, Transcaucasia and Turkey (Black Sea, Central Anatolia, East Anatolia, and north-east of Mediterranean Region). Cephalaria procera grows in rocky slopes, meadows, steppe and roadsides. It was collected from elevations of 900–2600 m.