 |
| Jurinea kuhrangensis Zeraatkar & Shirmardi, Zeraatkar, Shirmardi et Mokhtarpour, 2025. |
Abstract
Extensive field studies in remote areas of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran, resulted in the identification of a novel Jurinea species (Asteraceae: subtribe Saussureinae). Jurinea kuhrangensis sp. nov., a chasmophytic species endemic to limestone outcrops in the subalpine region of Kuhrang County, is formally documented in this study. Morphologically, it is similar to Jurinea meda and Jurinea prasinophylla, but is easily distinguished by several morphological traits, including plant height, leaf morphology, bracts, corolla, stamens and achene characteristics. This study provides a detailed description and diagnostic features of the new species. The data include images of the achene taken under stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope, photographs of the habitus, and phenological observations. A comparative table and color photographs are also presented to highlight distinctions from closely related species. Additionally, its IUCN Red List status, ecological observations, and a distribution map are presented.
Keywords: Cardueae, narrow endemics, remote area, Zagros Mountains
 |
| Jurinea kuhrangensis sp. nov. at flowering (June 2023). Photos (a) and (b): Amin Zeraatkar, (c) and (d): Hamzehali Shirmardi. |
 |
| Jurinea kuhrangensis sp. nov. in natural habitat (June 2023). Photos (a): Amin Zeraatkar; (b): Hamzehali Shirmardi. |
Jurinea kuhrangensis Zeraatkar & Shirmardi sp. nov.
Etymology: The new species is named after Kuhrang County, Iran, where it grows.
Description: Plant suffruticose-caespitose, cushion-shaped, dwarf, dense, often with numerous sterile rosettes; many-branched, 2–10 cm high, tomentose, villose-arachnoideus, glandulose with sessile glands; collar covered with remnants of petiole sheaths, woolly. Acaulescent, nearly acaulescent or stem simple, short, up to 4.5 cm long, scape-like, with solitary head (monocephalous), sometimes two-branched in upper part, with branches tapering to a solitary head, densely covered by whitish tomentose or partly villous or tomentose-villous indumentum, glandulose, 0.5–1.0 mm in diameter. Leaves herbaceous, ± rosulate, glandulose, adaxially greenish blue, with dense–sparse tomentose to partly villous ...
Amin Zeraatkar, Hamzehali Shirmardi and Touraj Mokhtarpour. 2025. A notable New narrow-endemic Species of Jurinea (Asteraceae) from the subalpine region of western Iran. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.04984 [06 October 2025]
