3b. Cyanus cheiranthifolius var. purpurascens (DC.) Negaresh, comb. nova.

Basionym: Centaurea montana var. purpurascens Candolle (1838: 579) . Centaurea cheiranthifolia var. purpurascens (DC.) Wagenitz (1974: 230) . Type:— ITALY. Ligurie, monte Braco entre Chiaveri et Sarzane, 19 July 1808, Candolle s.n. (lectotype G-DC (G00487608!) designated here).

Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea Sosnovsky (1926: 85) . Centaurea fischeri var. purpurea (Sosn.) Grossheim (1934: 214) . Type:— TURKEY. Distr. Novo-Bajazel Kejty-Janych, in monte Gezeldara, 30 July 1923, Grossheim & Zedelmejer s.n. (lectotype LE 01072683! designated here).

Taxonomic notes: — Centaurea montana var. purpurascens was first described by Candolle (1838). Subsequently, Wagenitz (1974) transferred this variety to Centaurea cheiranthifolia, a position followed by subsequent workers (Wagenitz, 1975, 1980, Ozcan et al. 2014, Şirin et al. 2019a, 2019 b, Çitak et al. 2021). According to Wagenitz (1975, 1980), var. purpurascens is distinguished from var. cheiranthifolia by pink-purple to violet-purple or blue flowers (vs. creamy white). This variety is still not transferred to the genus Cyanus, so I propose the new combination.

Distribution: — Cyanus cheiranthifolius var. purpurascens generally occurs in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Russia. Its distribution is wider in comparison to another variety. In Turkey, C. cheiranthifolius var. purpurascens is mainly distributed in northeastern parts in Arvtin, Ardahan and Kars Provinces (Fig. 2).

Selected specimens examined:— TURKEY. A8 Çoruh (Arvtin): Kuru Kurun Da. near Melo above Artvin, 2100 m, 30 June 1962, Apold et al. 125 (E!). A9 Çoruh (Ardahan): Ziyaret Da., 2300 m, 20 June 1957, Davis & Hedge D30276 (E!). Kars: Kisir Da., SW slope, 2700 m, 3 July 1957, Davis & Hedge D30576 (E!); Ardahan-Yalnizçam, 1900 m, 16 July 1957, Davis & Hedge D29603 (E!). Philipp, 30 June 1914, Post s.n. (E!). Kejty-Janych, in monte Gezeldara, 29 May 1913, Roop s.n. (LE!: two sheets) (syntypes of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea). ITALY. Ligurie, Genes, 8 July 1808, Candolle s.n. (G-DC!: middle part of the sheet!) (syntype of Cyanus cheiranthifolius var. purpurascens); Ligurie, Montagne de la Scaggia près Genes, 10 July 1808, Candolle s.n. (G-DC!: left hand of the sheet) (syntype of Cyanus cheiranthifolius var. purpurascens). AZERBAIJAN. Pratis montanis prov: Karabagh meridionali circa Ghierus, 1832, Szovits s.n. (G-DC!) (syntype of Cyanus cheiranthifolius var. purpurascens); in alpine monte Kope-Dagh, 1844, Kolenati 1981 (LE!) (syntype of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea); 1 July 1902, Schelkownikow s.n. (LE!) (syntype of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea); 16 July 1909, Schelkownikow s.n. (LE!) (syntype of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea). GEORGIA. In alpibus Lichidschwari districtus Trialeti, July 1844, Kolenati 2350 (LE!: three sheets) (syntypes of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea); Pedyma, 11 July 1851, Sredinsky 71 (LE!: right hand of the sheet) (syntype of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea); s.c., Nordmann s.n. (LE!) (syntype of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea). RUSSIA. Near the “Shelter” at the Mamison pass, alpine meadows, 30 July 1903, Akinfiew s.n. (LE!) (syntype of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea); Kuruch, Becker 285 (LE!) (syntype of Centaurea fischeri subsp. purpurea).