Limonium ikaricum Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

55. Limonium ikaricum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 55 )

Type:— GREECE. Eastern Aegean Islands : Ikaria , Aulaki-Eudilos (litorale granitico), 29 August 2003, Brullo & Bacchetta s.n. (holotype MSB-164019!, isotypes CAT!, F!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, viridis, 10–20 cm alta, foliis 10–20 × 1.5–2.5 mm, liniari-obovatis, apice obtusis, mucronatis, tuberculatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus pluribus, tuberculatis, ramis sterilibus paucis, spicis 10–40 mm longis, spiculis 7.5–8.3 mm longis, 1–5-floris, ad 2 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.1–2.4 × 2.1–2.3 mm, triangulari-ovata, bractea media 2.2–2.6 × 1.9–2.1 mm, bractea superiore 5.8–6.1 × 3.8–4.3 mm, obovata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 6.0– 6.3 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.5–2.0 mm exserto, tubo glabro vel sparsim piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.5 × 0.8 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 10–20 cm tall, with several to many erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 20–50 mm long, densely branched and densely spirally leafy. Leaves fleshy, rigid, tuberculate with many crateriform glands, green, 10–20 mm long and 1.5–2.5 mm broad, linear-obovate, apex obtuse, mucronate, cross-section v-shaped, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 5–10 cm long, tuberculate with crateriform glands, green, flexuous, branching begins near the base. Inflorescence narrowly obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches few, 5–20 mm long, unbranched. Fertile branches 20 –50 mm long, flexuous, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 35°–45°, unbranched. Spikes 10–40 mm long, straight, erect to directed obliquely upwards; axis of the spike with many crateriform glands. Spikelets 7.5–8.3 mm long, composed of 1–5 flowers, very remotely arranged with 2 per cm. Outer bract 2.1–2.4 mm long and 2.1–2.3 mm broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.2–2.6 mm long and 1.9–2.1 mm broad, elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 5.8–6.1 mm long and 3.8–4.3 mm broad, obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 4.0– 4.3 mm long and 2.1–2.6 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 1.0– 1.1 mm long, ending about 1 mm in front of margin. Calyx 6.0– 6.3 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.5–2.0 mm, calyx tube glabrous or with few short hairs, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.5 × 0.8 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Chromosome number:― 2n = 42 ( Artelari 1992, sub L. hyssopifolium )

Distribution: —Restricted to Ikaria, an island in the central-eastern part of the Aegean Sea. The species is very rare ( Fig. 88C ).

Habitat: —Granite rocky coast.

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BRULLO & ERBEN

Etymology: —The epithet “ ikaricum ” refers to Ikaria, an Aegean island.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. ikaricum is similar to L. quinnii , but it differs from the latter by having a smaller size, few sterile branches and shorter inner bracts. From L. elaphonisicum it differs by having smaller leaves, more densely arranged spikelets, shorter inner bracts and longer calyces.The chromosome complement of 2n = 42

LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 125

( Artelari 1992) was recorded from plant material sourced from the locus classicus of L. ikaricum but wrongly attributed to L. hyssopifolium at the time of its publication.

Specimens examined: —See types.

Figures

FIGURE 55. Limonium ikaricum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Ikaria, Aulaki-Fudilos, Brullo & Bacchetta 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).