Veronica rhodopea ( Velenovsky 1893: 51 ) Degen. ex Stojanov & Stefanoff (1925: 1010)

Rojas-Andrés, Blanca M. & Martínez-Ortega, Montserrat, 2016, Taxonomic revision of Veronica subsection Pentasepalae (Veronica, Plantaginaceae sensu APG III), Phytotaxa 285 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

10. Veronica rhodopea ( Velenovsky 1893: 51) Degen. ex Stojanov & Stefanoff (1925: 1010) . ( Fig. 17 )

Stems 3–8.5 (10) cm long, ascending, covered by short eglandular hairs (0.1) 0.2–0.4 (0.7) mm long, incurvate, ± appressed and antrorse, arranged in 2 opposite lines along the stem; apical shoot bearing 2–4 (5) pairs of leaves. Leaves 3–14 (15.5) × (1.5) 2–5 (9) mm, the basal and medium ones similar, narrowly elliptic to elliptic or obovate, rounded at the base, entire or subentire, rarely minutely crenate, sometimes subrevolute, slightly coriaceous, minutely ciliate bearing short hairs (0.06) 0.1–0.2 (0.4) mm long, glabrous, sessile or subsessile; apical shoot leaves opposite, obovate or narrowly elliptic, entire, subentire or minutely crenate, sometimes subrevolute. Racemes axillary, solitary (i.e., each pair of leaves bearing one raceme) or 2 opposite, occasionally alternate, bearing 15–30 (45) flowers, loosely to densely arranged; peduncle (0.3) 1–4 cm long, covered by short hairs, similar to those covering the stem; bracts 2–5 (6) mm long, narrowly elliptic to elliptic or oblanceolate, rarely widely obovate, entire, minutely ciliate (hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long), pedicels (1) 1.5–4 (5) mm long, blue (in flower), exceptionally sessile flowers. Calyx (2) 2.5–3 (4) mm long, (4) 5 sepals, narrowly elliptic, narrowly oblong or lanceolate, minutely ciliate, glabrous or rarely puberulent, with eglandular hairs. Corolla (8.5) 9–12 mm in diameter, intense blue. Capsule 2.8 × 3 mm, cuneate at the base, subglabrous ( Walters & Webb 1972) or ciliate ( Peev 1995), with eglandular hairs, emarginate, sinus ca. 1 mm depth. Style 4–5 mm long. Seeds ca. 1 mm width, ca. 15–20 per capsule.

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Chromosome Number: —2 n = 16.

Habitat: —Alpine and subalpine meadows, preferably on siliceous and humid soils; 1,300 –2,500 (2,800) m.

Distribution: —Endemic to Bulgaria (Rila and Rhodope mountains) ( Fig. 18 ).

Phenology: —Flowering from (May) June to July.

Notes: —Both the herbarium material examined and the specimens studied directly in the field were in flowering state. Thus, the information about capsule and seeds has been completed after Peev (1995) and Walters & Webb (1972). Style was measured on immature capsules.

Specimens Examined: — BULGARIA. Pazardzhik: Rhodope Gebirge, Wiese bei Beglika ( S von Basak), June 1973, M. A . Fischer s.n. ( WU); Westrhodopen, (illegible word) Beglika südlich Pestera, im Rasen, 1300 m, 12 June 73, J. & F . Markgraf s.n. ( B100217752 ); Belmeken , junto a la presa, prados alpinos, 1956 m, 42º10'35.5''N, 23º48'27.7''E, 13 June 2009, X. Giráldez , M. M . Martínez Ortega, B. Rojas Andrés & M . Santos Vicente BR12 ( SALA149321 ) ; Smolyan: Montes Kara Balkan ad oppidum Smolen ( Pasmakli ): In monte Karlak , 1800–2160 m.s.m., June 1936, Ivan Klásterský & Dr. Milos Deyl s.n. ( PR806991 , PR806998 ); unknown or dubious province: M . Rila, in rupibus cacum. Ravni Cal , solo silicioso, ad ca. 2470 m, 24 July 1955, Bondev s.n. ( C, E); in alpinis mte. Rhodope, May 03, Bierbach s.n. ( B); In graminosis (illegible word) M . Rhodope, prope Ta ?- B ?, 9 June 1927, Stojanoff & Stefanoff s.n. ( K); ¿ Pl.? Dobro Pole , 6 June1916, Dr. J . Mrkvicka s.n. ( PRC 455001).

Figures

FIGURE 17. Veronica rhodopea (Bulgaria, E Rhodope Mts., Pazardzhik, near Belmeken dam, B. Rojas-Andrés et al. BR12, SALA149321): a. Habit; b. Stem indument; c. Medium leaf (adaxial face); d. Medium leaf (abaxial face); e. Detail of a medium leaf (abaxial face); f. Apical shoot leaf (adaxial face); g. Apical shoot leaf (abaxial face); h. Flowering raceme; i. Bract; j. Corolla, androecium and style (frontal view); k. Calyx, corolla and stamen (lateral view). Illustration by Juan Castillo.

FIGURE 18. Distribution map of V. rhodopea based on herbarium specimens (black circles) and collected material (open circles).