Limonium pusillum Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

50. Limonium pusillum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 50 )

Type :— GREECE. Dodecanese: Astipalea (Stavros), 30 August 1994, Brullo & Scelsi s.n. (holotype MSB-604021!, isotypes CAT!; FI!; Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, glauca, 3–8 cm alta, foliis 8–28 × 3–6 mm, spathulatis, apice rotundatis, tuberculatis, 1- nerviis, caulibus paucis, 2–6 cm longis, tuberculatis, ramis sterilibus absentibus, spicis 10–40 mm longis, spiculis 7.5–8.0 mm longis, 1–3-floris, ad 3 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.2–2.5 × 1.9–2.1 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice obtusa, bractea media 2.6–3.0 × 2.0– 2.5 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 6.1–6.8 × 3.5–3.8 mm, oblongo-obovata, apice rotundata, margine anguste membranaceo, calyce 5.6–6.5 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0– 1.3 mm exserto, tubo paulo piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.4 × 0.7 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 3–8 cm tall, with few ascending or erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 10–40 mm long, densely branched and densely spirally leafy in the upper third. Leaves fleshy, rigid, tuberculate with many crateriform glands, glaucous, 8–28 mm long and 3–6 mm broad, spathulate, apex rounded, v-shaped in cross-section, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 20–60 mm long, tuberculate with many crateriform glands, glaucous, flexuous, normally unbranched. Inflorescence narrowly obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches absent. Fertile branches 10–40 mm long, flexuous, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 30°–45°, unbranched. Spikes 10–40 mm long, flexuous, erect to inserted obliquely; axis of spike with many crateriform glands. Spikelets 7.5–8.0 mm long, composed of 1–3 flowers, remotely arranged with 3 per cm. Outer bract 2.2–2.5 mm long and 1.9–2.1 mm broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.6–3.0 mm long and 2.0– 2.5 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 6.1–6.8 mm long and 3.5–3.8 mm broad, oblong-obovate, rounded; bract margin more or less narrowly membranous; central part fleshy, 4.9–5.1 mm long and 2.2–2.4 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 0.9–1.0 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 5.6–6.5 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0– 1.3 mm; calyx tube with some long hairs, with 5 ribs ending near the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.4 × 0.7 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to the island of Astypalaia, where it is quite rare ( Fig. 87K ).

Habitat: —Siliceous rocky coast.

Etymology: —The epithet “ pusillum ” refers to the minute size of this plant.

Taxonomic remarks: —The small size of L. pusillum gives it a similar appearance to L. contractum , which also occurs on the island of Astypalaia. L. pusillum differs from L. contractum by having tuberculate stems and larger spikelets.

Specimens examined (Paratypes):— GREECE. Dodecanese: Astipalea, Tzanaki , 29 August 1994, Brullo & Scelsi s.n. (CAT); Astipalea, Agios Andreas, 30 August 1994, Brullo & Scelsi s.n. (CAT); Astipalea, Ormos Andreou (scisti), 7 June 1995, Brullo & Minissale s.n., sheet 1 (CAT, Herb. Erben) .

Figures

FIGURE 50. Limonium pusillum 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 (Stavros), Brullo & Scelsi s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 87. (Map 2) Geographical distribution of Limonium corinthiacum (A); L. atticum (B); L. athinense (C); L. frederici (D); L. archaeothirae (E); L. saracinatum (F); L. pylium (G); L. xiliense (H); L. recticaule (I); L. graecum (J); L. pusillum (K).