Centaurea dumanii comb. & stat. nov. (Asteraceae)

Centaurea cassia Boiss. subsp. dumanii M. Dinc, A. Duran & B. Bilgili has been previously described as a new taxon based on the type photograph and description of C. cassia subsp. cassia. A detailed comparison of the plants from wild populations of the two subspecies revealed that subsp. dumanii was sufficiently distinct from subsp. cassia to be recognised as a separate species. We thus recognise it as Centaurea dumanii (M. Dinc, A. Duran & B. Bilgili) M. Dinc & S. Dogu, comb. & stat. nov. It is close to C. cassia from which it differs, in addition to the previously known diagnostic characters, by having an ovate to oblong and cuneate-based involucre, nearly flat appendages, and achenes with a spreading and longer pappus.