Cousinia azmarensis (Asteraceae, Cardueae), an endemic species from Kurdistan region (Iraq), is described and illustrated, and its distinguishing characters are discussed. It is easily separated from closest relatives C. cymbolepis DC. by having 115–125 flowers per head (vs. 80–90), heads 3.5–5.5 cm in diameter (vs. 3–4 cm), purple corolla (vs. pink), and 4–5 spines on each side of median bracts (vs. 2 or 3). It differs from C. qandilica by having 115–125 flowers per head (vs. 80–120), heads 3.5–5.5 cm in diameter (vs. 3–4), purple corolla (vs. yellow), and 4–5 spines on each side of median bracts (vs. 2 or 3). Cousinia calocephala is recorded herein for the first time in Iraq.