taxonID	type	description	language	source
03DF1651FFD26630FF17E5D2FC1F99EC.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — AFGHANISTAN. Herat: between Shindand and Farah Rud, 1150 m, 23 April 1967, Rechinger 33383 (holotype B 100846959!; isotypes M 0224496!, WU!). Perennial, caespitose, spinescent and pubescent subshrubs, 15 – 20 cm high, woody last year branches becoming whitish. Cauline leaves sessile, lanceolate, oblong to oblanceolate, 10 – 15 × 3 – 5 mm, truncate to rounded at the base, entire to subentire and cartilaginous at margin, acute to subacute at apex, glaucous, occasionally sparsely pilose beneath, especially at margin, glabrous above, without prominent veins or only with obscure midrib. Terminal rays 2 – 3, once dichotomously branched; with 0 – 3 axillary rays; rays and axillary rays later becoming rigid spinescent. Ray leaves similar to cauline leaves in shape and size; raylet leaves mostly ovate to rather rhombic, rounded at base, acute and mucronulate at apex, entire to subentire and cartilaginous at margin. Cyathial involucre campanulate, 3 – 3.5 mm in diameter, internally pilose and externally glabrous; lobes lanceolate and acute, glands 4, gland appendages lunate, with two long horns, reddish-brown. Ovary smooth, style and stigma unknown. Capsules seen only immature, trilobate, 5.5 – 7 mm in diameter, glabrous, smooth. Seeds unknown. Additional specimen examined (paratype): — AFGHANISTAN. Farah: Gija [Gijam], 900 m, 10 April 1949, KØie 4227 (W).	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD26630FF17E5D2FC1F99EC.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The epithet ‘ acanthoclada ’ refers to its thorny shoots. Affinity and plant geography: — Morphological characters of the newly discovered species indicate that it belongs to section Pithyusa. No DNA could be extracted from the rather old herbarium specimens. This species, like many other members of section Pithyusa, is an Irano-Turanian element. Euphorbia acanthoclada has been collected only from the type locality in W Afghanistan, Herat province and once from another place [Gijam] in SW Afghanistan by K Ø ie (Fig. 2). This species was misidentified and reported as E. acanthodes Akhani (2004: 108), an endemic and rare species from SW Iran, by Breckle et al. (2013). There is no ecological information of its habitat, it is found at elevations between 900 and 1150 m. Conservation status: — Based on conservation analysis and IUCN threatened categories, it is suggested to evaluate its conservation status as ‘ critically endangered’ (CR) (IUCN 2017).	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD26634FF17E18AFC9F9EE2.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — PAKISTAN. Baluchistan: Kalat, between Basima and Surab, 1600 – 1700 m, 28 º 29 ’ N, 66 º 19 ’ E, 21 April 1965, Rechinger 28318 (holotype W!; isotypes B 100846955!, M 0224484!). Perennial herbs, erect, 25 – 35 cm high, several shoots arising from rather woody stock, glabrous, glaucous. Stem base 2.5 – 3 mm diameter. Cauline leaves sessile, orbicular to obovate, 7 – 18 × 5 – 11 mm, rounded to cuneate at the base, margin entire to subentire, cartilaginous, apex mucronulate or rounded, glabrous, glaucous, with 3 – 5 palmate nerves. Terminal rays (3 –) 4 (– 5), two to three times dichotomous, usually elongated (up to 12 cm), axillary rays 3 – 8, more elongated than the terminal ones (up to 20 cm), once or mostly twice dichotomously. Ray-leaves similar to cauline leaves, 3 – 4; raylet-leaves similar to the cauline and ray leaves but remarkably smaller (6 – 10 × 6 – 12 mm). Cyathial involucre campanulate, 2.5 – 2.8 mm in diameter, lobes lanceolate, lacerate; glands 4, gland appendages lunate, brown, with 2 long, yellowish horns, mostly 2 - lobate. Ovary smooth, glabrous, styles united at the base, bifid, 2 mm long, the stigmas thickened. Capsules conical, superficially trilobate, 3.5 – 4 × 3 – 3.5 mm, glabrous, occasionally whitish punctate, pedicels, 3.5 – 4 mm long. Seeds conical, irregularly pitted, 2.2 – 2.5 × 1.7 – 2 mm, yellowish to light brown, caruncle conical, 0.7 – 1 × 0.5 mm, brownish. Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — PAKISTAN. Baluchistan: Kalat, 24 km S Surab, 28 º 29 ’ N, 66 º 19 ’ E, 1 April 1965, Rechinger 27380 (M!, W!, WU!); Kalat, Surab, 69 km from Kalat towards Khuzdar, 1700 m, 28 º 29 ’ N, 69 º 19 ’ E, 1 April 1965, Rechinger 27371 (M!); Kalat, 9 May 1963, Siddigi 2009 (K!); Skalku [Iskalku], Kalat, 2134 m, 19 June 1957, Akbar 1882 (K!); Kalat, Gandava pass, Stocks 401 (K!); 30 km S of Quetta in Pass, 2000 m, 19 July 1969, Andersen & Petersen 464 (K!).	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD26634FF17E18AFC9F9EE2.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The epithet ‘ boreo-baluchestanica ’ refers to northern Baluchistan, Pakistan, where the species occurs.	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD26634FF17E18AFC9F9EE2.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation status: — Euphorbia boreo-baluchestanica has been collected by several botanists from the semi-desert zone of lower mountane regions at elevation between 1600 – 2130 m on gravelly and stony beds. According to the IUCN redlist categories and the conservation analysis, it is suggested to evaluate its conservation status as ‘ vulnerable’ (VU) (IUCN 2017). Affinity and plant geography: — The newly discovered species belongs to section Pithyusa and is sister to E. prolifera Buch. - Ham. (in Don 1825: 62) (Pahlevani, unpubl. data). Euphorbia boreo-baluchestanica is limited to the N part of Baluchistan, Pakistan near the frontier of Afghanistan (Fig. 2). In addition to obvious morphological differences which have been mentioned in diagnosis, its chorotype is also different from E. prolifera. Euphorbia boreo-baluchestanica is an Irano-Turanian element, whereas, E. prolifera is a Sino-Himalayan element (Geltman 2015), occurring from SW China, Thailand, Burma, Nepal and N India to NW Pakistan as the most western part of its distribution. Our unpublished molecular data indicate that these two species and E. erythradenia Boissier (1846: 92), E. gedrosiaca Rechinger, Aellen & Esfandiari (1951: 220), E. plebeia Boissier (1846: 93), E. spartiformis Mobayen (1984: 160) and E. sulphurea Pahlevani (2015: 353) form a distinct and supported clade in sect. Pithyusa. Of the seven species of this group, two occur in Pakistan and the five remaining ones are endemic to Iran (Pahlevani et al. 2015). With the exception of E. prolifera, other members of this clade are Irano-Turanian elements, distributed from south-eastern parts of the Zagros Mountains toward Baluchistan of Iran and Pakistan. The specimens deposited in the mentioned herbaria have been mistakenly identified and reported as E. microsciadia Boissier (1846: 89) by Radcliffe-Smith (1986). Taxonomic note: In addition to the diagnostic characters mentioned above, there are some more morphological differences between E. boreo-baluchestanica and E. prolifera, including cauline leaves cuneate to rounded at the base (not attenuate or truncate), mostly with 3 – 5 conspicuous palmate nerves (instead of inconspicuous ones or only midrib visible), mostly mucronulate or rounded apex (instead of obtuse, acute to subacute apex), absence of densely-leafy sterile shoots (instead of presence of densely-leafy sterile shoots).	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD66634FF17E6B8FE2B947E.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — IRAN. Esfahan: Kashan, Deh-abad, near Abuzeyd-abad, 1000 m, 3 June 1975, Moussavi & Tehrani 30689 E (holotype W!; isotype IRAN 55498!). Perennial erect, glabrous herbs, 18 – 50 cm high, with several branches from base. Cauline leaves rather sparse, sessile, obovate to cuneate, 6 – 11 × 3 – 5 mm, cuneate to rounded at the base, margin entire, apex acute, mucronulate or obtuse, glabrous, glaucous, 3 - conspicuous to rather inconspicuous palmate nerves. Terminal rays 1 – 2 (– 3), up to once dichotomous, axillary rays 0 – 2, mostly longer than terminal ones. Ray-leaves similar to the cauline leaves but smaller, 2 – 3; raylet-leaves ovate to suborbicular, sparsely pilose at the base, 3 – 4 × 3 – 3.5 mm. Cyathial involucre campanulate, 2.5 – 3 mm in diameter; lobes lanceolate, lacerate; glands 4, gland appendages trapeziform, hornless or with two short horns. Ovary smooth, glabrous, style free at the base, shortly bifid, 1 mm long, the stigma thickened. Capsules smooth, conical, shallowly trilobate, glabrous, immature or opened. Seeds conical, irregularly pitted, 2.5 – 2.8 × 1 – 1.5 mm, dark brown, caruncle conical, 1 × 0.5 mm. Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — IRAN. Esfahan: Kavir Protected region, in desert 50 – 54 km from Chashmeh-ye Safid Ab [Cheshme Sefid Ab] towards Haji Ali Abbas, 950 m, 26 May 1974, Rechinger 46480 (IRAN!, M!, W!); Esfahan, Nain, Anarak, 14 km on the road to Chopanan, 1400 m, 13 October 1974, Foroughi & Assadi 15140 (W!); between Tehran and Tabas, south of Dasht-e Kavir, 950 m, 33 º 32 ’ N, 54 º 59 ’ E, 6 April 1972, Léonard 5413 (IRAN!, K!); between Tehran and Tabas, east of Dasht-e Kavir, 900 m, 34 º 05 ’ N, 52 º 27 ’ E, 3 April 1972, Léonard 5332 (IRAN!, K!); Yazd: on the desert margin between Nain and Aghda, 1000 m, 21 April 1948, Rechinger et al. 2695 (K!).	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD66634FF17E6B8FE2B947E.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The epithet ‘ kavirensis ’ refers to Dasht-e Kavir, Persian name for the temperate desert of the interior Iran.	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD66634FF17E6B8FE2B947E.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation: — Euphorbia kavirensis occurs in the large Iranian interior desert “ Dashte Kavir ” in steppes of Artemisia Linneaus (1753: 845) and on gypsum hillsides at 950 – 1400 m elevation. So far this species is known from six localities, however, because of homogenous conditions in interior steppes it is expected to be found in further locations in the future. For more precise assessment of conservation status of the species, some more excursions in its habitat will be needed. Based on IUCN threatened categories and existing data of E. kavirensis, it is suggested to evaluate its conservation status as ‘ vulnerable’ (VU) (IUCN 2017). Affinity and plant geography: — Euphorbia kavirensis belongs to section Pithyusa and is sister to E. gedrosiaca (Pahlevani, unpubl. data). It has been misidentified as E. gedrosiaca or E. erythradenia on herbarium sheets. All three mentioned species comprise (1 –) 2 – 3 (– 4) terminal rays, but with the exception of morphological and phylogenetical differences, their distributional pattern is also different. Euphorbia erythradenia is limited to the south-eastern part of Zagros Mountains, E. gedrosiaca is distributed to SE and E Iran to W Afghanistan, whereas, E. kavirensis occurs in deserts of central Iran (Fig. 5).	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD46638FF17E156FB5C9EDF.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — PAKISTAN. Baluchistan: Ziarat, ± 2440 m, 28 May 1968, Zaffar Ali 4827 (holotype K!). Glabrous, procumbent-ascending perennial herbs, 4 – 8 cm high. Many stems arising from caudiculi borne upon the rootstock. Cauline leaves sessile, ovate-lanceolate, 3 – 5 × 1 – 2 mm, tapering at the base, margin subentire to irregularly minutely denticulate, apex subacute, obtuse to rounded, glabrous. Terminal rays 3 – 4, one to two times dichotomous, with no axillary ray. Ray-leaves 3 – 4, rhombic-ovate, 4 – 5 × 3 – 5 mm, subacute or obtuse, cuneate at the base; raylet-leaves similar to ray-leaves but smaller, truncate at the base. Cyathial involucre campanulate, 1.5 – 2 mm in diameter, lobes lanceolate, lacerate; glands 4, gland appendages transversely ovate, reddish, with two long, stramineous and subulate horns. Ovary smooth, glabrous, styles united at the base, shortly bifid, 1 mm long, the stigma slightly thickened. Capsules conical, 4 – 4.5 × 3 – 3.2 mm, shallowly trilobate, glabrous. Seeds compressed-conical, 2.5 – 2.8 × 1.5 – 1.8 mm, shallowly pitted, dark brown, caruncle conical, 0.7 – 1 × 0.8 – 1 mm. Additional specimens examined (paratype): — PAKISTAN. Baluchistan: Quetta, in jugo E Ziarat, 2500 – 2600 m, 30 º 20 ’ N, 67 º 30 ’ E, 13 May 1965, Rechinger 29395 (W!).	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD46638FF17E156FB5C9EDF.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The epithet ‘ ziaratensis ’ refers to the type locality of the new species in Ziarat, a place in northern Baluchistan of Pakistan.	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
03DF1651FFD46638FF17E156FB5C9EDF.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation: — Based on information from herbarium specimens, E. ziaratensis is found in the alpine zone of the highlands of northern Baluchistan on stony ground at 2400 – 2600 m elevation. So far, only two specimens of the species have been found in the studied herbaria, both of which are from the type locality in Ziarat or nearby (Fig. 5). It seems E. ziaratensis is very rare. Because of its rarity and vulnerability, I suggest the evaluation of this delicate species as ‘ critically endangered’ (CR) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threatened categories (IUCN 2017). Affinity and plant geography: — Based on the morphological characteristics of E. ziaratensis, it belongs to sect. Pithyusa. The type specimen has been mistakenly considered as E. aucheri Boissier (1846: 94) from Pakistan by Radcliffe-Smith (1986). But after close examination of the specimens, it was found that it not only does not belong to sect. Herpetorrhizae (Prokhanov 1933: 56) Prokhanov (1949: 456), but it is a member of section Pithyusa. The most distinguishable features to separate the new species from E. aucheri are its capsules and seeds (Pahlevani et al. 2015). It is remarkable that the sole specimen of E. aucheri reported from Pakistan (Radcliffe-Smith 1986) in fact belongs to this new species. Euphorbia ziaratensis was found from highlands of northern Baluchistan of Pakistan (Fig. 5), which is a hotspot of medicinal and endemic plants in Pakistan (Ali & Qaisar 1986, Bibi et al. 2015).	en	Pahlevani, Amir H. (2017): Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia. Phytotaxa 312 (1): 83-93, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.1.6
