Limonium sieberi (Boissier) Kuntze (1891: 396)

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

40. Limonium sieberi (Boissier) Kuntze (1891: 396) ( Fig. 40 )

Basionym:― Statice sieberi Boissier (1841: 530) . Type (lectotype designated by Bokhari & Edmondson, 1982):― GREECE. Crete: Crète, Rettimo ad Mare, s.d., Sieber s.n, sub Statice spathulata Desf. (K!, isolectotypes G!, G-DC!, K!, M!, OXF!, P!, PC!, W!).

= Limonium runemarkii Rechinger fil. (1961: 370). Type (lectotype, designated here):― GREECE. Euboea : Insula Euboea meridionalis, ad promontorium austr.-occidentalem insulae in saxosis litoreis insulae Mantili, 21 June 1958, Rechinger18855 (M!, isolectotypes B!, G!, W!).

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 20–50 cm tall, with few to several erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 10–60 mm long, densely branched, densely spirally leafy in the upper half, living leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves fleshy, rigid, rugose, green to slightly glaucous, flat, 20–60 mm long and 6–18 mm broad, spathulate to oblanceolate, apex obtuse to rounded, mucronate, 1 central nerve with 2 lateral nerves at least on large leaves, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 10–45 cm long, rugose or sometimes slightly verrucate, green to glaucous, slightly flexuous, branching begins above lower quarter of the stems. Inflorescence paniculate or obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches absent or only 1–5 per stem, 1–9 cm long, straight, unbranched. Fertile branches 3–13 cm long, straight to slightly curved, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 25°–50°, only longer branches divided. Spikes 10–80 mm long, straight to slightly curved, erect, inserted obliquely upwards or spreading. Spikelets 6.5–9.0 mm long, composed of 1–3 flowers, remotely arranged with 2–3 per cm. Outer bract 2.0– 2.8 mm long and 2.0– 2.6 mm broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse to acute; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy only at base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.2–3.2 mm long and 1.7–2.7 mm broad, oblong-elliptic to oblong-obovate, rounded. Inner bract 5.2–7.0 mm long and 3.4–4.3 mm broad, elliptic to obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 4.1–5.8 mm long and 2.2–3.4 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 0.7–1.0 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 5.2–6.8 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.5–2.5 mm; calyx tube glabrous or sparsely to densely shortly to long hairy, with 5 ribs ending before or at the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, semi-elliptic to semi-circular; sometimes margin of calyx lacerate after anthesis. Corolla lilac to pale violet.

Chromosome number: —2n = 43 ( Artelari & Georgiou 2003; Erben Li–1201, Li–1706, Li–1707, unpubl.).

Distribution: — L. sieberi is distributed in northern Crete, on the southeastern Peloponnese (Lakonia) and on the Aegean Islands of Kythira, Euboea and Alonissos ( Fig. 94D ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. sieberi is similar in habit to L. pigadense , but it differs from the latter by having shorter caudices, 3-nerved leaves and narrower inner bracts. Plants with larger spikelets occur on the Peloponnese, around Gythio. L. sieberi also includes those populations previously ascribed to L. runemarkii Rechinger fil.

LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

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BRULLO & ERBEN

Specimens examined: — GREECE. Euboea: Insula Euboea meridionalis: Ad promontorium austr.- occidentalem insulae in saxosis litoreis insulae Mantili , 21 June 1958, K. H. Rechinger 18854, 18855 (B, G, M); Insula Euboea meridionalis: Ad promontorium austr.-occidentalem insulae in saxosis litoreis 21 June 1958, K. H. Rechinger 18856 (W); Evvia island , between the localities Bouros and Mantili at the southern most end of the island, on maritime schists, 2 January 1989, R. Artelari & Chondropoulos 1031 (M); Euvoia, Limni, SE of town, coast below Mon. Ag. Nikolaou Galataki, limestone coastal cliff, influence of salt-spray, 16 June 1999, Mucina LM 6657/34 (Herb. Erben); Eubea, litorale roccioso presso Amarinthos, 5 June 1992, Brullo & Pavone s.n. (CAT); Eubea, sud Karistos presso Akr. Mandili, 28 August 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben) .― Sporades: Ins. Alonissos (Sporades): in saxosis litoreis, 14 May 1965, Phitos 4505 (M).― Ionian Islands: Ins. Kythira, in saxosis litoreis prope pagum Kapsali, 7 May 1964, K. H. Rechinger & Phitos 1299 (M); Kithira, Kàvo- Kapèllo, 2–5 m, Kalk und Poros. Spärlich in der litoralen Sprühzone, vermischt mit der hier dominierenden L. sieberi , 12 May 1964, Greuter S 6587a (Herb. Greuter); Kithira, Avlemonas-Bucht, beim Paläokastro (archäa Skandia), 5 m, Poros. In der litoralen Sprühzone sehr häufig, 13 May 1964, Greuter S 6606 (W, Herb. Greuter); Kithira, Bucht Fùrni südlich Platia-Ammos, 2 m, Poros. Sehr häufig in der Sprühzone, in sonniger Lage mit ersten Blüten, 19 May 1964, Greuter 6677 (W); Kithira, Platia Ammos, 14 June 2004, Brullo & Musarella s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Kithira, Avlemona, costa ovest, 15 June 2004, Brullo & Musarella s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Kithira, Feloti Bay, Aghios Pelaghia presso Chora Kithira, 15 June 2004, Brullo & Musarella s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Kithira, Isola di Makronisi, rupi calcaree, 15 June 2004, Brullo & Musarella s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Kithira, Diakofti, Isola Makronisi, 15 June 2004, Brullo & Musarella s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben).― Peloponnese: Napoli di Malvasia , 1898, Zuccarini s.n. (M); Peloponnes, Ep. Gutheiou, Ost-Mani, Strand bei Skoutari, Klippen, 17 April 1979, Kalheber 79–120 (Herb. Kalheber); Peloponnes, Nom. Lakonias, Ep. Epidaurou Limeras, Monemvasia, Strandfelsen zw. Monemvasia und Gephyra, 2 April 1986, Kalheber 86–535 (M, Herb. Kalheber); Nomos Lakonia, Eparchia Epidauro, Limeras, Peninsula Malea, 5–30 m, 24 May 1986, Oxelman & Tollsten 1194 (C); Felsiges Litoral , Monemvasia , 30 July1986, Rothlisberger s.n. (G); Monemvasia , Stefanos , 3 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Monemvasia , Bay Aghios Fokas , 3 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Akr. Kremios, Monemvasia Bay , 3 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Monemvasia , costa rocciosa, 3 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Mezapos , 4 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Mezapos (Mani penisola), 4 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Litorale di Gythio , 4 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Trinisia (Gythio), 4 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben).— Crete: Crète, s.d., Sieber s.n. (G-BOISS, W); Creta, Candia, Sieber s.n. (BM); Creta in saxosis maritimis Mavramolo pr Kissamos , June 1846, De Heldreich s.n. (G-BOISS); Creta, in saxosis ad littore mari Kissamos , Kastelli pres de Mavromolo, 16 June1846, De Heldreich 1574 (G-BOISS); Creta, in arenosis maritimis ad Petra distr. Rethymnotika , 11 July1899, Baldacci 353 (BM, W, WU); Creta, im rupestribus ultra Gerani dicti Rethymnotika , July 1899, Baldacci s.n. (G); Creta, Distr. Selinas, in arenosis maritimis ad Paleochora , 3 June 1842, K.H. Rechinger 13611 (BM); Creta, Ep. Kidonia, H. I. Akrotiri , Bucht von Kalathas südl. Chorofokia , Sandstrand , 25 April 1960, Greuter 2618 (W); Creta, costa rocciosa ad Ovest di Rethimno , 1 August 1989, Brullo & Pavone s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Creta, Stavros , depressioni umide e rupi arenacee, 1 August 1989, Brullo & Pavone s.n. (CAT); Creta, Kalavas (Akrotiri). Costa roccioso-calcarea, 1 August 1989, Brullo & Pavone s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Creta, Baia di Kalathas (Akrotiri), 1 August 1989, Brullo & Pavone s.n. (CAT); Creta, costa rocciosa ad ovest di Rethymno, 26 August 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Creta, Gerani , 26 August 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (CAT, MSB, Herb. Erben); Creta, Stavros (Chania), 26 August 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (CAT); Creta, Grave of Venizelos (Chania), 4 June 2000, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (CAT) .―

Figures

FIGURE 40. Limonium sieberi (Boissier) Kuntze. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Habit and leaves drawn from “Creta, Rethimno, Brullo & Pavone s.n., CAT”, spikelet details from “Crète, Rettimo ad Mare, Sieber s.n, M”).

FIGURE 94. (Map 9) Geographical distribution of Limonium pigadiense (A); L. sartorianum (B); L. schinousae (C); L. sieberi (D); L. sirinicum (E); L. sitiacum (F); L. narbonense (G).