Limonium parosicum Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

52. Limonium parosicum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 52 )

Type :— GREECE. Cyclades : Paros, Aliki (litorale calcareo) 28 August 2003, Brullo & Bacchetta s.n. (holotype MSB-164032!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, griseo-viridis, 10–30 cm alta, foliis 15–30 × 3–6 mm, spathulatis ad oblanceolatis, apice obtusis, 1-nerviis, caulibus pluribus, superne tuberculatis, ramis sterilbus paucis, 1–4 per caulem, spicis 10–40 mm longis, spiculis 6.5–7.5 mm longis, 2–4-floris, ad 2–4 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.7–3.0 × 2.0– 2.5 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice acuta, bractea media 2.5–2.8 × 2.0– 2.1 mm, obovato-elliptica, bractea superiore 5.7–6.1 × 3.4–4.2 mm, oblongo-obovata, apice rotundata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 5.2–6.2 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0– 1.2 mm exserto, tubo sparsim piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.7 × 1.0 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 10–30 cm tall, with several erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 5–40 mm long, branched; leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves fleshy, grey-green, flat, on both sides tuberculate with crateriform glands, 15–30 mm long and 3–6 mm broad, spathulate to oblanceolate, apex obtuse, retuse, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 7–25 cm long, slightly flexuous, first of all in the upper part slightly tuberculate with crateriform glands, slightly constricted at the nodes, branching begins near the base of the stems. Inflorescence obtriangular or obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches few, 1–4 per stem, 8–25 mm long, straight, verrucate, undivided. Fertile branches 3–7 cm long, tuberculate with crateriforme gland, slightly constricted at nodes, straight, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 25°–45°, normally unbranched. Spikes 10–40 mm long, straight, directed obliquely upwards; axis of spike with some crateriform glands. Spikelets 6.5–7.5 mm long, composed of 2–4 flowers, remotely arranged with 2–4 per cm. Outer bract 2.7–3.0 mm long and 2.0–2,5 mm broad, triangular-ovate, acute; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, often only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.5–2.8 mm long and 2.0– 2.1 mm broad, obovate-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 5.7–6.1 mm long and 3.4–4.2 mm broad, oblong-obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, 4.0–5.0 mm long and 2.0– 2.7 mm broad, oblong, slightly keeled on the back, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.9–1.1 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 5.2–6.2 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0– 1.2 mm; calyx tube scarcely, long hairy, with 5 ribs ending at the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.7 × 1.0 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Chromosome number: —2n = 34 (Erben Li–1718, Li–1769, unpubl.)

Distribution: —Restricted to Naxos and Paros, where it is very rare ( Fig. 89H ).

Habitat: —Calcareous and sandy rocky coast.

Etymology: — L. parosicum is named after the island of Paros (Cyclades).

Taxonomic remarks: — L. parosicum is similar in habit to L. microcycladicum , but it differs from the latter by having shorter spikelets and inner bracts. It differs from L. palmare by having shorter inner bracts, from L. contractum by having longer inner bracts and calyces and from L. pusillum by having shorter spikelets and inner bracts.

Specimens examined (Paratypes): — GREECE. Cyclades: Naxos, Westküste der Insel, Küste am Ormos Karades, Strand bei Migli Vigla , 0–10 m, Felskuppe, 3 October 2000, Kalheber 00–2009 (Herb. Kalheber = Li–1769); Paros, Bucht von Naoussa, Ormos Plastira, Strand Kolymbithres, Mündung eines Bachs, Sandstrand, 12 April 1994, Kalheber 94–561 (Herb. Kalheber) .

LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 119 120 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 121

Figures

FIGURE 52. Limonium parosicum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Paros, Aliki, Brullo & Bacchetta s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 89. (Map 4) Geographical distribution of Limonium arcuatum (A); L. antipaxorum (B); L. cephalonicum (C); L. coronense (D); L. stenotatum (E); L. ithacense (F); L. phitosianum (G); L. parosicum (H); L. palmare (I).