Holotype: Hab. in Persia australi circa Boushir (Bushehr)Aucher 4320 (G).

Distribution: South Iran, Afghanistan & Pakistan.

The type variety differs from the var. aucheri in having the glabrous leaves while in the latter taxon the leaves are pubescent to almost glabrous with few hairs beneath on the nerves. A number of specimens show this type of continuous variation in the latter taxon and there seems to be some intergradation with the type variety e.g. specimens from Mach, Qaiser & Ghafoor 4317 (KUH); about 4 miles from Pail on way to Khushab Farooqi & Qaiser 2759 (KUH) are almost glabrous and it is difficult to cite under the either variety. Therefore Z. aucheri Boiss. does not deserve more than a varietal rank under Z. spina-christi (L) Willd.