Phelipanche sevanensis Piwow., Ó. Sánchez & Moreno Mor. (2017c: 232)

Piwowarczyk, Renata, Pedraja, Óscar Sánchez, Moral, Gonzalo Moreno, Fayvush, George, Zakaryan, Narine, Kartashyan, Nune & Aleksanyan, Alla, 2019, Holoparasitic Orobanchaceae (Cistanche, Diphelypaea, Orobanche, Phelipanche) in Armenia: distribution, habitats, host range and taxonomic problems, Phytotaxa 386 (1), pp. 1-106 : 37

10. Phelipanche sevanensis Piwow., Ó. Sánchez & Moreno Mor. (2017c: 232) . Type:— ARMENIA (holotype): Gegharkunik distr.: Tsovagyugh E., 9 July 2015, R. Piwowarczyk (KTC!); isotypes: (ERCB!, KRA!, herb. Ó. Sánchez Pedraja!). Fig. 11H .

Distribution: —The species is known only from the type locality ( Fig. 24).

Habitat: —Grows in the rocky semi-arid mountain steppe on south to south-west exposed steep slopes surrounding Lake Sevan at 1945 m, dominated by the host species from the genus Heracleum .

Hosts: —Parasitic exclusively on Heracleum trachyloma Fisch. & C.A. Mey. ( Apiaceae , subfamily Apioideae ), endemic to the Caucasus.

Phenology: —Flowering end of June to July, fruiting July to August.

Conservation status: —Critically Endangered (CR) – B 1 ab (iii) + 2 ab (iii). So far, known only from Armenia. Only one location is known. The population is quite large and in good condition, including more than 200 shoots. Limiting factors are restricted EOO and AOO, and the proximity of human settlements, railways, and main roads.

Notes: — Phelipanche sevanensis is morphologically close to P. heldreichii . However, it differs very clearly from P. heldreichii in morphology: a larger plant, inflorescence shorter than the rest of the stem, any existing branches usually growing from the central part of the shoot, larger corolla with a different shape of tube, widened to the mouth, curved dorsal line and as well as large and broad lobes, larger calyx tube, shorter calyx-teeth, different shape and size of bracts and upper scales, and also colouration of stem and inflorescence, host species, and flowering period, (2)3–4 weeks distance (detailed differences are presented in Piwowarczyk et al. 2017c).

Specimens examined:— Gegharkunik prov.: N. part of Lake Sevan, Tsovagyugh E., rocky slope, SW exposure, ca. 1945 m, 9 July 2015 , R. Piwowarczyk ( KTC, ERE, ERCB, KRA, herb. Ó. Sánchez Pedraja); Tsovagyugh E., rocky slope of Lake Sevan , ca. 1945 m, 24 July 2017 , R. Piwowarczyk ( ERCB, KTC) .

Figures

FIGURE 11. General habit of: A. Phelipanche caesia, B. P. zangezuri, C. P. hajastanica, D. P. purpurea, E. P. heldreichii, F. P. arenaria, G. P. nana, H. P. sevanensis, I. P. ramosa. Photos by Renata Piwowarczyk.