Campanula nejceffii (Hayek) Marinov & Stoyanov, 2017

Marinov, Yulian & Stoyanov, Stoyan, 2017, Reappraisal of Campanula rotundifolia var. bulgarica Nejceff-a neglected taxon from Central Stara Planina Mountain, Bulgaria, Phytotaxa 329 (1), pp. 69-79 : 73-78

Campanula nejceffii (Hayek) Marinov & Stoyanov , stat. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Basionym:— Campanula rotundifolia var. bulgarica Nejceff (1906: 140) . Type ( Fig. 3 ) (lectotype, designated here):— BULGARIA. In fissuris rupium m. Balcan [Stara Planina Mountain], Koru Dere, supra vicum Gabarevo, julio 1903, I. Nejceff 75026 (SOM!).

Homotypic synonyms:— Campanula rotundifolia subsp. euxina f. nejceffii Hayek (1931: 538) ≡ Campanula rotundifolia subsp. neicevii (Hayek) Stojanoff & Achtaroff (1939: 186) .

Blocking names:— Campanula bulgarica Witasek (1906: 244) ≡ C. rotundifolia var. bulgarica (Witasek) Stojanov & Stefanov (1925: 1084) ≡ C. rotundifolia subsp. bulgarica (Witasek) Hayek (1931: 538) . Lectotype (designated by D. Podlech 1964) ( Fig. 4 ):— BULGARIA. In saxosis montis “Čatalkaje” prope Slivno [Eastern Stara Planina Mountain, above Sliven town], 21 July 1893, J. Wagner, Iter Orientale Secundum 119 (W 18930003929!) (Virtual Herbaria JACQ).

Perennial, laxly caespitose, whole plant (except corolla) pubescent, with patent hairs. Rootstock woody, with few branches. Stems herbaceous, few to numerous, subprostrate-erect, 5–15(–20) cm, leafy, ending in a single flower or 2–3(–4)-flowered racemes. Basal leaves not forming a distinct rosette, lamina rounded-reniform, 8–12 mm in length and width, margins entire to slightly dentate-crenate, with broad rounded teeth, petiole 15–25 mm; lower and middle leaves ovoid to elliptic-lanceolate, 10–20 × 3–8 mm, with 2–3 small teeth on each side or entire, always petiolate, petiole 1–5 mm; upper leaves linear-lanceolate, 10–15 × 1–2 mm, subsessile, with a tapering lamina. Flowers erect in bud and during anthesis, semi-pendulous after anthesis, single or in terminal racemes, peduncle 4–10 mm. Calyx with prominent veins, teeth narrowly triangular-lanceolate, 3–4.5 × 1–1.3 mm, with a conspicuous midrib, at all stages spreading or reflexed, totally hairy or glabrous only outside. Corolla conical-campanulate, 11–16 × 7–10 mm, violet blue, lobes rounded, mucronate at apex, stigma trifid, style 7–10 mm long, shorter than the corolla, stamens initially fused to the style, anthers caduceus, ovary pubescent especially between veins or sometimes glabrous and shiny, green to violetish. Fruit a capsule, 1.5–3 mm long, with prominent ribs, semi-pendulous when mature, dehiscence by opening of basal pores. Seeds elliptic-ovoid, 0.5–0.7 mm long, pale brown, translucent, shiny.

Etymology: —The epithet was introduced by Hayek (to avoid homonyms) as nomen novum and dedicated to Ivan Nejceff, Bulgarian botanist, who discovered and described this taxon (sub Campanula rotundifolia var. bulgarica Nejceff ).

Phenology: —Flowering in July–August, fruiting in August–September.

Habitats and Populations: —Locality Chatal Cham occupies the uppermost area of the left slope of the Valley of Sokolna River and includes mainly exposed cliffs. It is situated in southeast part of the Triglav massif (the second highest part of Central Stara Planina Mountain, Bulgaria). The area falls into the high parts of the Sokolna Reserve, which is a part of Central Balkan National Park. The species grows exclusively in the crevices of calcareous rock at elevation between 1500–1800 m ( Fig. 5 ). It is a true chasmophyte and a member of rupestrian community characterized by endemic species such as: Haberlea rhodopensis , Carum graecum , Micromeria frivaldszkyana , Scrophularia bulgarica , Seseli bulgaricum and Festuca balcanica subsp. neicevii . The topography and isolation of the locality, combined with its petrographic structure and unique soil and climatic conditions result in a great floristic diversity with strong endemic element.

Campanula nejceffii takes part in the following habitat type of Directive 92/43/EEC (1992): 8210 Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation (EUNIS: H3.2A13 Balkan Range calcicolous chasmophyte communities).

Distribution range: — Campanula nejceffii is a strictly local Bulgarian endemic species, so far known only from the Central Stara Planina Mts. floristic region. Its area covers the southeast part of the Triglav massif, above the village of Gabarevo, in the most upper part of the Valley of Sokolna River ( Fig. 6 ).

Other original material examined (isotypes of C. nejceffii ):— BULGARIA. In fissuris rupium, Koru Dere, 26 July 1903, Nejceff—74980 (SOM!), 75065 (SOM!), 75138 p.p. (SOM!), 75142 (SOM!), 75143 (SOM!), 72935 (SO!).

Additional C. nejceffii specimens examined: — BULGARIA. On the rocks at Chatal Cham locality, Koru Dere, 27 August 1903, Nejceff 75033 ( SOM!) ; In Koru Dere , non a date, Urumov 75151 ( SOM!), sub C. rotundifolia var. bulgarica Nejceff ; Sokolna Reserve , southeast facing slope of Chatal Cham locality, in crevices of calcareous rocks, 1570 m, 42.71026ºN, 25.12656ºE, 22 July 2016, Y. Marinov & S. Stoyanov 173249 ( SOM!) ; Sokolna Reserve , on the top of Chatal Cham locality, in crevices of calcareous cliffs, 1620 m, 42.71049ºN, 25.12568ºE, 22 July 2016, Y. Marinov & S. Stoyanov 173250 ( SOM!) .

Additional C. bulgarica Witasek specimens examined: — BULGARIA. In graminosis ad Dobrila, m. Troyan Balkan, 15 July 1900, Urumov 74166 ( SOM!) ; In grassy rocky places, Central Stara Planina Mountain, 1600–1800 m, 16 July 1929, Drenovski 75154 ( SOM!), sub C. rotundifolia var. bulgarica (Witasek) Stoj. & Stef ; On wet shady rocks, Central Stara Planina Mountain, 1400–2000 m, 21 July 1929, Drenovski 75121 ( SOM!), sub C. rotundifolia var. bulgarica (Witasek) Stoj. & Stef .

Additional C. cochleariifolia Lam. specimens examined: — BULGARIA. Pirin septentrionalis, in saxosis calcareis ad loco dicto Kamenitica intra reservatum Bajovi Dupki, 2300 m, 6 August 1975, Andreev 139235 ( SOM!) ; Pirin Mt. , along the trail to Vihren summit, 13 August 1975, Anchev 148988 ( SOM!) ; Pirin Mt. , Malkiya Kazan locality, 8 August 1979, Anchev 148989 ( SOM!) ; Pirin Mt. , rocky places above Malki Kazan locality, 28 June 1977, Anchev 148990 ( SOM!) ; Pirin Mt. , on the slopes of Sinanitsa summit, 16 September 1970, Anchev 148991 ( SOM!) ; Pirin Mt. , near Vihren summit, 13 July 1975, Anchev 148992 ( SOM!) ; Pirin Mt. , ad pedes cacumine Vihren prope Kazanite, 16 August 1991, Ganeva 150761 ( SOM!) ; Pirin Mt. , Razlozhki Suhodol summit, rock crevices at Stapalata locality, 23 July 2004, Goranova 161561 ( SOM!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Campanula nejceffii—habit (Chatal Cham locality, Koru Dere, 22 July 2016, photo Y. Marinov).

FIGURE 2. Campanula nejceffii. A. basal leaves; B. stem leaves; C. calyx & corolla (Chatal Cham locality, Koru Dere, 22 July 2016, photos Y. Marinov & S. Stoyanov).

FIGURE 3. Lectotype of Campanula rotundifolia var. bulgarica Nejceff.

FIGURE 4. Lectotype of Campanula bulgarica Witasek (photo provided by © Naturhistorisches Museum Wien).

FIGURE 5. Habitat of Campanula nejceffii (Chatal Cham locality, Koru Dere, 22 July 2016, photo S. Stoyanov).

FIGURE 6. Distribution map of Campanula nejceffii in Bulgaria.