Abstract
The taxonomic status of species and infraspecific taxa included in Centaurea sect. Phaeopappus is revised. The present study is based on morphological characters of the specimens from the authors’ expeditions and other herbarium collections. Three subspecies and two varieties are elevated to the species rank, and a new subspecies is described. In addition, Centaurea phaeopappa is treated as a valid species and C. handelii is reported as new to Iran. The section ranges from N to NW and W to SE in Iran, N Iraq to E Turkey, Armenia, S Transcaucasia and Afghanistan. Finally, a key to all species of the section is provided. In addition, the chromosome count 2n = 18 is reported for C. albonitens.