Dandelions in Central Asia: a revision of Taraxacum section Stenoloba.

On the basis of rich material from Asia, a recently described group of dandelions, Taraxacum sect. Stenoloba Kirschner et Štěpánek, is revised taxonomically. Four previously described species are recognized: T. sinomongolicum, newly typified, T. mongoliforme, with a lectotype replacing the original holotype now not extant, and a new epitype, T. scariosum, a new combination of Leontodon scariosus Tausch, replacing the frequently confused names, T. asiaticum, newly typified, and T. stenolobum, and T. multisectum, a taxon for the first time compared with other members of the section. Three new species are described: T. abax occupies a large range from S Siberia and Mongolia to NE China, T. abalienatum and T. odibile are known from Mongolia and SE Siberia. Taraxacum abax and T. abalienatum represent core species of the section Stenoloba, whilst T. odibile exhibits a mixture of characters of sections Stenoloba and Leucantha. All the known members of the section Stenoloba are agamosperms. Taraxacum mongoliforme, T. abax and T. scariosum proved to be triploid with 2n = 24. This account includes detailed descriptions and an identification key.