Limonium athinense Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

17. Limonium athinense Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 17 )

Type:― GREECE. Attika: Voula (Atene), 26 August 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (holotype MSB-165818!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, viridis, 8–15 cm alta, foliis 8–15 × 2–5 mm, anguste oblanceolatis, apice acutis, interdum mucronatis,1-nervis, caulibus pluribus, tenuissimis, rugosis, subflexuosis, subarticulatis, ramis sterilibus paucis ad pluribus, spicis 5–15 mm longis, spiculis 6.0–6.4 longis, 1–4-floris, ad 3–5 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 1.9–2.1 × 1.7–1.9 mm, anguste triangulari-ovata, bractea media 1.9–2.1x 1.6–1.8 mm, oblong-elliptica, bractea superiore 4.8–5.1 × 2.7–2.9 mm, oblongo-elliptica, apice obtuse, calyce obconico, 4.8–5.0 mm longo, ex bractea superiore ca. 1.2 mm exserto, tubo sparsim breviter piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.7 × 0.8 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 8–15 cm tall, with several erect to ascending stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 8–15 mm long, branched, densely spirally leafy in the upper half. Leaves fleshy, green, flat, slightly verrucate, 8–15 mm long and 2–5 mm broad, narrowly oblanceolate, apex acute, sometimes mucronate, retuse, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems very slender, 6–12 cm long, slightly flexuous, rugose, slightly constricted at the nodes, branching begins near the base of the stems. Inflorescence narrowly trullate in outline. Sterile branches few to several, 5–20 mm long, straight, divided in the upper half. Fertile branches 5–30 mm long, slightly constricted at nodes, straight to slightly curved, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 20°– 40°, normally unbranched. Spikes 5–15 mm long, straight, directed obliquely upwards. Spikelets 6.0– 6.4 mm long, near the base laterally slightly curved, composed of 1–4 flowers, remotely arranged with 3–5 per cm. Outer bract 1.9–2.1 mm long and 1.7–1.9 mm broad, more or less narrowly triangular-ovate, acute to obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 1.9–2.1 mm long and 1.6–1.8 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 4.8–5.1 mm long and 2.7–2.9 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, obtuse; bract margin more or less narrowly membranous; central part fleshy, 3.5–3.9 mm long and 1.7–1.9 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.9–1.0 mm long, nearly reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4.8–5.0 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by ca. 1.2 mm; calyx tube sparsely shortly hairy, with 5 ribs ending at the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.7 × 0.8 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Voula near Athens (Attika), where it is rare ( Fig. 87C ).

Habitat: —Sandy soils and marly rocky coast.

Etymology: —The species is named after Athina, the Latinized name for Athens.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. athinense is very similar to L. fragile , namely having a small stature, minute leaves, delicate stems and short spikes. However, L. athinense differs from L. fragile by having shorter caudices, broader leaves, shorter spikes and longer outer and middle bracts.

Specimens examined: —See types.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Limonium athinense Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Voula, Brullo & Sciandrello 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).