Saussurea xinjiangensis sp. nov. (Asteraceae, Cardueae), a new species from Xinjiang, China

Saussurea xinjiangensis Y. S. Chen, a new species from Xinjiang, China, is described and illustrated. It was first found during a field expedition by the author in 2014. It belongs to S. subgen. Saussureasect. Laguranthera because its root and caudex split fibrously and it has numerous capitula in a corymbiform synflorescence. The new species is similar to S. mucronulatain its habit, strongly fibrous rootstock and caudex, sessile linear leaves and capitula shortly pedunculated in a corymbiform synflorescence. However, it differs fromS. mucronulataby its usually branched stems (versus usually simple or apically few-branched), lower leaf blade 8-12 cm long and 0.5-1.8 cm wide (versus 3-5 cm long and 0.2-0.5 cm wide), leaves abaxially sparsely arachnoid tomentose (versus densely arachnoid tomentose), phyllary white arachnoid tomentose and green to brown (versus glabrous and blackish purple).