Cirsium semzinanicum (Asteraceae), a new species from Hakkâri, Turkey

Abstract Cirsium semzinanicum sp. nov. (Asteraceae) is described as a new species from Hakkâri, Turkey. The new species is a part of the sect. Epitrachys (Cardueae) and similar to Cirsium karduchorum, from which it differs in morphological characters such as leaves, involucre, phyllaries, corolla, achens and pollen morphology. Geographical distribution, habitat and IUCN conservation status of this species are given.


Introduction
Th e genus Cirsium Mill. is one of the largest genera of Asteraceae, and it comprises more than 250 perennial, biennial, or rarely annual spiny species distributed in the northern hemisphere in Europe; North Africa; East, Central, and Southwest Asia; and North and Central America (Charadze 1963, Davis and Parris 1975, Petrak 1979, Kadereit and Jeff rey 2007. Th e last revision on Cirsium species growing in Turkey was carried out by Davis and Parris (1975) for the Flora of Turkey. In that study, 52 species (65 taxa) were given under 3 sections [Cirsium, Epitrachys DC., and Cephalonoplos (Neck.) DC.]. Additional taxonomic treatments have dealt with the distribution of the genus in supplements and 5 new species (6 taxa) were given (Davis et al. 1988;Güner et al. 2000).
Finally, the Turkish members of the genus were established as 66 species (78 taxa) according to Yıldız (2012) and Yıldız et al. (2013).
Between 2011 and 2015 new populations of Cirsium sp. similar to C. karduchorum were discovered at 3 sites in south-east Turkey. Here the morphological and micromorphological characters of these new populations are presented ad their taxonomic treatment is proposed.

Materials and methods
Th e specimens were collected by the author in July 2011 and August 2015 during the fi eld trips to Şemdinli (Fig. 1) in Hakkâri, in the southeast of Turkey. In total 10 herbarium specimens of the presumed new species were collected from three adjacent localities and deposited in the herbaria of VANF, ANK and E. A formal name is provided accompanied by a detailed description and illustration.
Etymology. Th e specifi c epithet is derived from the name of the Şemzinan (Şemdinli) province where type material was collected.
Distribution and conservation status. Cirsium semzinanicum is endemic to Hakkâri province in Turkey. Th e number of mature individuals is approximately 600 and is known from 3 locations (criteria B2ab [i.iii]). Th erefore, it should be regarded as belonging tothe IUCN Vulnerable (VU) threat category (IUCN 2014).