Echinops erioceras Bornmüller (1918: 207),

Montazerolghaem, Somayeh, Rahiminejad, Mohammad Reza, Mozaffarian, Valiollah & Susanna, Alfonso, 2016, Taxonomic notes on the genus Echinops (Compositae, Cardueae-Echinopsinae) in Iran, Phytotaxa 263 (2), pp. 81-97 : 85-88

1. Echinops elymaiticus Bornmüller (1918: 205) .

Type:— IRAN. Silachor bei Serlan, 26 July 1902, Strauss, s.n. (B!, JE, K, W!) ( Fig. 3).

= Echinops erioceras Bornmüller (1918: 207) , syn. nov.

Type:— IRAN. Arak: Inter Hazerun (Gazran) et Kome (Qom), 15 August 1902, Alexeenko 749 ( B!) ( Fig. 4).

Bornmüller (1918) described two new species: E. erioceras with few and short (5–7 mm) brush and E. elymaiticus with numerous and long (15–18 mm) brush. Rechinger (1979) added some other differences ( Table 3). Mozaffarian

(2002, 2006, 2008a) distinguished these two species by a wholly lanate horn of cornigerous capitula in E. erioceras in contrast to a horn of cornigerous capitula being glabrous at the tip in E. elymaiticus .

Our examination of numerous specimens putatively belonging to either species clearly showed that there is a clinal morphological spectrum and continuous intermediate states between the extremes of the two types. Our ITS data also support the synonymy of these two species (Montazerolghaem et al. in press).

Specimens examined:— IRAN. In mount Elwend-Gulpaigan , 20 June 1905, Strauss s.n. ( W!) ; Bakhtiari, Daran 12 km, Kuhrang road, 2400 m, 24 July 1973, Riazi 10273 ( W!), ( TARI!) ; Arak (sultanabad): Ad stationem viae ferrae Fuzieh ad occidentem urbis Sultanabad , 13 June 1948, Rechinger 5743 ( W!), ( B!) ; Bakhtiari: In declivibus montium 12 km a Borujen versus Sefid Dasht , substr. calc., 2300–2700 m, 2 June 1974, Rechinger 47093 ( W!) ; Arak (Sultanabad): In monte Rasvend , 1900 m, s.d. Mirdamadi 1372 ( W!) ; Arak ; Inter Hazerun et Kome. 15 August1902, Alexeenko 749 ( B!) ; In m. Schuturunkuh , July 1908, Strauss s.n. ( B!) ; Silachor bei Serlan , 26 July 1902, Strauss s.n. ( B!) ; Raswend. August1998, s.c. s.n. ( B!) ; In ditione oppidi Sultanabad: in monte Raswend , 8 August 1898, Strauss s.n. ( B!) ; In m. Schuturunkuh , August 1903, Strauss s.n. ( B!) ; Dumbe Kemer (in ditione oppidi Chonsar ), 24 June 1905, Strauss s.n. ( B!) ; In monte Elwend-Gulpaigan , 20 June 1905, Strauss s.n. ( B!) ; Luristan: ca. 40 km from Aligudarz to Shulabad, west of Chaghagorg , 2320 m, 12 July 2000, Mozaffarian 80419 ( TARI!) ; Arak: Shahzand to Khomein , Kajarestan , 2150 m, 17 July 1999, Mozaffarian 79669 ( TARI!) ; Esfahan, Khansar , Golestan kuh, 2300–2600 m, 23 June 1998, Mozaffarian & Maassoumi 77954 ( TARI!) ; Esfahan: ca. 9 km from Khansar to Damane, Ghaleh Babamohammad , 2550 m, 12 August 1999, Mozaffarian 79815 ( TARI!) ; Arak: between Lathedar and Ghale Mianchai , 1800-1900 m, 26 July 1995, Assadi 75093 ( TARI!) ; Luristan: ca. 40 km from Aligudarz to Khomein , 2300 m, 12 July 2000, Mozaffarian 80421 ( TARI!) ; Chaharmahal-e Bakhtiari: Shahr-e Kurd, Vardanjan , Kuh-e Chehel Dokhtaran , 2300 m, 6 August 1986, Mozaffarian 57938 ( TARI!) ; Esfahan: Golpayegan, Hende village , 2100–2250m, 5 July 1983, Nowroozi & Ashtari 3057 ( TARI!) ; Lurestan: Oshtorankuh, Above the village Tihun , 2000–2500m, 12 July 1981, Assadi & Mozaffarian 37105 ( TARI!) ; Arak: 25 km Arak to Tureh , 1850m, 12 July 1999, Mozaffarian & Maasoumi 79626 ( TARI!) ; Hamadan: Hamadan to Saveh, Gardan-e Dukhan , 1750m, 11 June 1999, Mozaffarian 79554 ( TARI!) ; Esfahan: Kashan, between Ghamsarand Rezaabad , 2450m, 5 June 1999, Assadi, Jamzad & Azizian 80049 ( TARI!) ; Arak: Shahzand, Hafte-o Emarat , Alimabad , Kuh-e Alvand , 2100–2800m, 8 July 1985, Mozaffarian 63857 ( TARI!) ; Arak: Shahzand to Khomein , Abbarik , 2150m, 17 July 1999, Mozaffarian 79667 ( TARI!) ; Arak: Shahzand, Hafte-o Emarat , Alimabad , Kuh-e Alvand , 2100–2800m, 8 July 1985, Mozaffarian 63904 ( TARI!) ; Arak: Shahzand , 1820 m, 17 July 1999, Mozaffarian 79664 ( TARI!) .