Type:— IRAN. Prov. Zanjan: Qeydar city, near Qeydar neck, 36º 7 ʹ N, 48º 35 ʹ E, 1970–2075 m, 19 June 2013, Ranjbar 34732 (BASU!, holotype). Fig. 12.

Perennial, diffuse, slender herbs, up to 60–65 cm high, plant indumentum white, 1.5–2.5 mm long. Stem many-branched, densely soft villous below and sparsely pilose above. Leaves slightly coriaceous, villous or pilose on both surfaces. Lower cauline leaves lyrate-pinnatisect, oblong-lanceolate, 10–13 × 1.5–3 cm, with 6–8 lateral segments; lateral segments triangular, 0.5–1.5 × 0.2–0.5 cm, serrate, 6–8 teeth (apical side straight, basal side flexuous), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 20º–30º, teeth 0.7–1.2 mm long, acute at apex; terminal segment larger than lateral ones, oblong-lanceolate, 7–10 × 1.5–2 cm, serrate, 30–40 teeth (apical side straight, basal side flexuous), angle of teeth with reference to the midrib 20º–30º, teeth 0.8–1.5 mm long, acute at apex; midrib of adaxial leaf lamina prominently raised, gently raised adaxially, rounded abaxially, secondary nerves not clearly reticulate, tertiary veins unclear. Middle cauline leaves lyrate to pinnatilobed, oblong-lanceolate, 7–13 × 1–1.5 cm, with 6–8 lateral segments; lateral segments linear-oblong, 1–4.5 × 0.2–0.7 cm, entire, acute at apex; terminal segment larger than lateral ones, oblong-lanceolate, 6.5–10.5 cm, acute at apex, midrib of adaxial leaf lamina impressed to flat adaxially, rounded abaxially, prominently raised; secondary nerves reticulate. Upper cauline leaves reduced, lanceolate shape, pinnatisect, with 4–6 lateral segments; entire, 1–2 × 0.2–0.3 cm, midrib impressed to flat adaxially, rounded abaxially, secondary and tertiary nerves unclear. Peduncle 1–32 cm long, pubescent. Capitula globose or ovoid, 1.2–1.5 × 1–1.3 cm in diameter in flower, subradiant. Involucral bracts in one series, rounded-ovate, 4.5–5 × 2.5–3 mm, obtuse at apex, green in the middle, white along margins, black or red at apex, silky-pilose; hairs up to 2 mm long. Receptacular bracts in 4–5 series, oblong-triangular, 5.5–11.7 × 2.5–4 mm, cream-whitish, red or black at apex, pubescent, apex acute. Calyx cupuliform, 1–1.5 × 1.5–2 mm, pubescent, with irregular teeth 1–1.3 mm long. Corolla 10–11 mm long, yellow, densely covered with appressed hairs outside; stamens slightly longer than corolla; anthers deeply yellow. Involucel 4.5–5 × 1.5–2 mm in flower, 4-angled, hairy, with 4 long and 4 short teeth at apex; long teeth 2–2.5 mm long, short teeth 1–1.5 mm long.

Additional specimens examined:—Only known from the type collection.

Distribution and habitat:— Cephalaria qeydarensis is an Irano-Turanian element that is endemic to NW Iran and is considered threatened. The new species is known only from the clay soils in Zanjan province, Qeydar city, near Qeydar neck at an elevation of 1200 m.

Taxonomic notes: — Cephalaria qeydarensis is similar to C. hirsuta, but differs in height and shape of plant, stem indumentum, segments of lower leaves, serrate margin, upper leaves shape and dissection, length of peduncle, number of series of involucral bracts (Table 3). Also, C. qeydarensis differs from other related species of C. sect. Atrocephalae by diffuse shape, soft villous below, sparsely pilose above stem and densely villous leaves.