Nepeta margallaica A.Sultan, Jamzad & A.Khan, 2024

Sultan, Amir, Khan, Amjad, Shah, Sayed Afzal, Naz, Saeeda & Jamzad, Ziba, 2024, NEPETA MARGALLAICA (MENTHEAE: NEPETOIDEAE: LAMIACEAE): A NEW SPECIES FROM THE MARGALLA HILLS, PAKISTAN, Edinburgh Journal of Botany 81 (1991), pp. 1-13 : 3-8

Nepeta margallaica A.Sultan, Jamzad & A.Khan , sp. nov.

Resembles Nepeta cataria L. but differs from that species in having tuberous roots (vs non-tuberous), spike-like inflorescence (vs paniculate with distant lower verticillasters), calyx minutely pubescent not becoming urceolate in fruit (vs densely pubescent, curved, becoming urceolate in fruit), corolla uniformly white, lacking purple spots on the lower lip (vs corolla bearing purple spots on the middle lobe of the lower lip), and nutlets black and shiny (vs pale brown). It also differs from Nepeta raphanorhiza Benth. , the other Nepeta species with tuberous roots, in having spike-like inflorescence with distant basal verticillasters (vs terminal ovoid spike), calyx herbaceous with an oblique throat (vs membranous with a suberect throat), and corolla white (vs violet-blue). – Type: Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Haripur district, Margalla hills, near Barkot, Kohmal Paein, 980 m, 33°51′22.6′′N, 73°09′43.4′′E, 12 viii 2021, Amir Sultan, Saeeda Naz, Muhammad Shafi & Zahfran Amjad 212241 (holotype RAW [barcode 102046], isotype TARI). Figures 1 , 2 , 3 .

Perennial herb, roots tuberous, dark brown, up to 17 cm long, c. 3 cm in diameter. Stem up to 65–85 cm, branched in upper part; pubescent, with retrorse, villous hairs, intermixed with some flattened multicellular hairs in upper parts. Leaves 3–5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, oblongovate to ovate-triangular, acute, crenate-serrate, truncate to shallowly cordate, adaxial surface glabrous to glabrescent, sparsely pubescent along veins, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent and densely pubescent along veins. Petiole 0.6–1.5 cm, pubescent, bearing few multicellular hairs. Inflorescence spike-like, basal verticillasters distant. Lower floral leaves leaf-like, broadly ovate to ovate-acuminate, serrate-crenate, 0.5–2.2 × 0.2–1.4 cm, ciliate with flattened, long multicellular hairs. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, c.5 × 1 mm, bracteoles linear-lanceolate, long acuminate, 2.5–3 × 0.5 mm, ciliate. Calyx tubular-campanulate,

5.5–6 mm, 15-nerved, tube ± straight, pubescent, calyx throat oblique, hairy, teeth 2.5–3 mm, linear-triangular, the median tooth of the upper lip often recurved. Corolla white, 9 mm long, hairy, tube curved, shortly exerted from the calyx, abruptly dilated into the broad throat, upper lip 3–4 × 4 mm, lower lip 4–4.5 × 6 mm, middle lobe of the lower lip 3–4 × 3.5–5 mm, margin dentate. Nutlets black, shiny, ovate, 1.5 × 1 mm, trigonous, smooth, areole lobes short, horizontal.

Distribution. So far known only from two localities approximately 1 km apart, in the Barkot area of the Margalla Hills ( Figure 4 ).

Habitat and ecology. Found growing along maize field borders in the type locality. Flowering July to October, fruiting August to October. The aerial plant parts die back during the winter, and the plant resprouts in spring from the tuberous roots.

Etymology. The species is named after the Margalla Hills, where it was originally found.

Proposed IUCN conservation category. Both documented collections of this species originate from locations adjacent to a road, situated within a 2 km radius of each other, and near human settlements. The AOO and EOO are each 4 km 2, it is recorded from two locations, there is evidence of a decline in at least the quality of habitat, and there are threats from overgrazing and uprooting by wild boars. As a precautionary measure, a provisional listing is provided as Critically Endangered (CR), based on B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) criteria. Some plants are being maintained in the Botanical Conservatory at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad.

Notes. Nepeta margallaica belongs to Nepeta sect. Cataria Benth. and to the N. cataria species group ( Jamzad, 2012), whose members are characterised by having a cymose or paniculate inflorescence, consisting of distant verticillaster or close verticillasters, spike-like in the upper part; and oblique calyx throat, unequal teeth, middle lobe of the lower corolla lip dentate-crenate, with the margin turned upwards. Rather et al. (2012) have recorded Nepeta raphoanorhiza , known locally in Kashmir as kanz-gogal, as having an edible root; its edibility was also reported by Stewart (1972). The edibility of the tuberous roots of Nepeta margallaica should be investigated.

Additional specimens examined. PAKISTAN. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Haripur district, Margalla hills, Barkot , 1005 m, 33°51′31.5′′N, 73°10′08.6′′E, 9 ix 2022, Amir Sultan & Amjad Khan 222521 ( RAW [barcode 102320]) .

Figures

Figure 1. Nepeta margallaica A.Sultan, Jamzad & A.Khan, sp. nov. A, Habit; B, floral leaf; C, bracteole; D, bract; E, calyx (adaxial surface); F, calyx (abaxial surface). Drawn from the holotype, Amir Sultan, Saeeda Naz, Muhammad Shafi & Zahfran Amjad 212241, by Muhammad Saleem.

Figure 2. Nepeta margallaica A.Sultan, Jamzad & A.Khan. A, Habitat; B, habit; C, tuberous root; D, inflorescence; E, flower in basal verticillaster; F, corolla (scale divisions, 1 mm); G, flower (scale divisions = 1 mm); H, nutlet (dorsal surface); I, nutlet (ventral surface). A, Photograph taken in the field; B, D–G, photographs of a pot-grown plant at the Botanical Conservatory of the National Agricultural Research Centre; C, H and I, photographs of the type collection (Amir Sultan et al. 212241). Photographs: A, Amjad Khan; B−G, M. Saleem and Faraz Ahmed; H and I, Saeeda Naz.

Figure 3. Holotype of Nepeta margallaica A.Sultan, Jamzad & A.Khan, sp. nov. (RAW [barcode 102046]).

Figure 4. Map showing the distribution of Nepeta margallaica in Pakistan.