Sesleria anatolica var. rossica Deyl (1946: 107)

Pietro, Romeo Di, Kuzmanović, Nevena, Iamonico, Duilio & Lakušić, Dmitar, 2017, Nomenclatural and taxonomic notes on Sesleria sect. Argenteae (Poaceae), Phytotaxa 309 (2), pp. 101-117 : 102-103

3. Sesleria anatolica var. rossica Deyl (1946: 107)

Lectotype (designated here):—[ RUSSIA]. [Tuapsinsky District]: Prov. Cernomorsk distr. Tuapses prope p. Weljaminowna [town Tuapse, village Velyaminovskoye], 06 July 1912, Sosnowsky 53 (W-Hackel–1916-0035102!). Image available at http://herbarium.univie. ac.at/database/detail.php? ID =258659.

Other original material (syntypes):— TURKEY. Saboŭnjoŭ- Kaïvé, entre Smyrne et Magnesie [between Izmir and Manisa], dans les terrains calcaires [on calcareous terrain], 08 June 1854, Balansa 141 (PR-830102!). UKRAINE: Novorossiysk, Myschako, 25 August 1895, Lipský s.n. (PR-830103!).

Protologue information:—Habitat in subalpinis et alpinis, substrato calcareo. Area: Caucasus. Okres Cernomorsk—Myschako (Novorossijsk) 25. VII. 1895, Lipský, V. Tuapse prope pag. Veljaminovka, 6. VII. 1912, Sosnovsky No. 53. Caucasus, Bayern. Abchazia, M. Kopeimye 2. IX. 1894, Albov (2200–2300 m). Mammdzyškha 30. VIII. 1894, Albov (1300–1350 m). Novorossijsk, in fancib. fl. Aderbi, 1. VII. 1921, Sosnovsky No. 50. Saboŭnjoŭ- Kaïvé, entre Smyrne et Magnesie dans les terrains calcaires, 8. VI.1854 leg. Balansa No. 141.

Nomenclature:— Sesleria anatolica var. rossica was proposed to distinguish from the typical variety morphotypes of S. anatolica in the Caucasus region with wider and longer basal leaves and long-awned lemmas. The protologue includes information about the locality and the ecology of this taxon and a short list of specimens, which are syntypes (Art. 9.5). We found original material at W (Hackel’s collection, code 1916–0035102) and PR (PR 830102, PR 830103). The W specimen bears two pieces of the same plant and the label “Ex Herbarium Horti Botanici Tiflisiensis | N° 53 Sesleria elongata Host | Prov. Cernomorsk distr. Tuapses prope p. Weljaminowna | Leg.: D. Sosnowsky | 6-VII-1912 ”. The plant morphology matches the diagnosis, and the label data fit those reported in the protologue. One specimen deposited in Deyl’s home institution (PR 830102) bears his undated annotation “ Sesleria anatolica . det. Deyl. Typus!”. The material was collected by Balansa between Magnesia (currently Manisa, Turkey) and Smyrna (currently Izmir, Turkey). However, the leaf blades on this sheet are narrow and do not match Deyl’s description. The second specimen at PR (PR-830103) bears the following Deyl’s undated annotation “ Sesleria anatolica var. rossica . det. Deyl”, and details on the label, which is not the original one, which match the protologue (specimen collected by Lipský in Myschako in Russia). The plant fits the description in the protologue.Although this is the only specimen unequivocally identified by Deyl as S. anatolica var. rossica we prefer to designate the specimen deposited in W as the lectotype for this name, as it has the original label of the collector.

Taxonomy:— S. anatolica var. rossica is considered a synonym of S. alba (Clayton et al. 2016) .