Limonium astypaleanum Erben & Brullo, 2016

Brullo, Salvatore & Erben, Matthias, 2016, The genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) in Greece, Phytotaxa 240 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

78. Limonium astypaleanum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 78 )

Type :— GREECE. Dodecanese : Astipalea, Porto, 7 June 1995, Brullo & Minissale s.n. (holotype MSB-164022!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, viridis, 20–30 cm alta, foliis 10–25 × 2–4 mm, spathulatis, rugosis, 1-nerviis, caulibus numerosis, 14–25 cm longis, rugosis vel subverrucosis, ramis sterilibus numerosis, spicis 5–40 mm longis, spiculis 6.0–7.0 mm longis, 1–3-floris, ad 2–4 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 1.7–2.0 × 1.8–2.1 mm, triangulari-ovata, bractea media 1.8–2.0 × 1.5–1.8 mm, bractea superiore 4.8–5.1 × 3.1–3.6 mm, obovata, apice rotundata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 4.4–4.9 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.5–2.0 mm exserto, tubo dense piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.8 × 0.9 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 20–30 cm tall, with many ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 20–40 mm, densely branched, spirally leafy, living leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves rugose, flat, 10–25 mm long and 2–4 mm broad, spathulate, apex rounded, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems rugose or slightly verrucate, 14–25 cm long, green, flexuous, branching frequently begins near the base. Inflorescence narrowly obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches numerous, 1.0– 2.5 cm long, unbranched. Fertile branches 1–4 cm long, slightly arched, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 35°–60°, unbranched. Spikes 5–40 mm long, arcuate, inserted erect to obliquely. Spikelets 6.0–7.0 mm long, composed of 1–3 flowers, remotely arranged with 2–4 per cm. Outer bract 1.7–2.0 mm long and 1.8–2.1 mm broad, triangular–ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 1.8–2.0 mm long and 1.5–1.8 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 4.8–5.1 mm long and 3.1–3.6 mm broad, obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 3.5–4.1 mm long and 2.0– 2.5 mm broad, oblong, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 0.5–0.8 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4.4 – 4.9 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.5–2.0 mm; calyx tube densely shortly hairy, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.8 × 0.9 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

168 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 169

Distribution: —Endemic to the island of Astypalaia, where it grows near the port ( Fig. 88G ).

Habita: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: —The epithet “ astypaleanum ” refers to Astypalea, the old name of Astypalaia.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. astypaleanum is similar to L. meandrinum in having rugose leaves, and flexuous stems with numerous simple, sterile branches, but L. astypaleanum differs by having spathulate leaves, obovate, broader inner bracts, and a shorter and more densely hairy calyx.

Specimens examined: —See type.

Figures

FIGURE 78. Limonium astypaleanum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Astipalea, Porto, Brullo & Minissale s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 88. (Map 3) Geographical distribution of Limonium amopicum (A); L. doerfleri (B); L. ikaricum (C); L. elaphonisicum (D); L. creticum (E); L. damboldtianum (F); L. astypaleanum (G); L. glomeratum (H); L. grabusae (I); L. isidorum (J); L. cythereum (K); L. kirikosicum (L); L. dolihiense (M); L. minoicum (N).