Morphological, anatomical, palynological, karyological and autecological characters of Centaurea amaena Boiss. & Balansa [Sect. Phalolepis (Centaurea/Asteraceae)]

Centaurea amaena Boiss. & Balansa included in the Phalolepis section of the Compositae (Asteraceae) family is an endemic species that is under critical risk of extinction. The morphological, anatomical, palynological, karyological and autecological features have been studied in this study. In accordance with the new observations, additional information was added to the previous description of the species, and the description was edited. Moreover, threat category of C. amaena has been updated according to International Union for Conservation of Nature criterions as CR B2ab(i,iii) (previously EN). Pollen grains are symmetric and isopolar, tricolporate. The somatic chromosome number is determined as 2n = 18 in C. amaena. The karyotype formula of this species consists of three median chromosome pairs and six submedian chromosome pairs. The physical and chemical properties of the soil in which the plant grows are, sandy-loam, weak acid, high organic matter. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Wien.