Limonium pharosianum Bogdanović & Brullo, 2015

Bogdanović, Sandro & Brullo, Salvatore, 2015, Taxonomic revision of the Limonium cancellatum group (Plumbaginaceae) in Croatia, Phytotaxa 215 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

18. Limonium pharosianum Bogdanović & Brullo , sp. nov.

Type: — CROATIA. Central Dalmatia: Isola di Hvar, Jelsa, Dalmazia centrale, 10 August 2005, Bogdanović & Dujmović s.n. (holotype CAT!; isotypes CAT!, ZAGR!) ( Figs. 19 , 48 ) .

Diagnosis: — Planta pubescens , dense foliosa secus partem superiorem caudicularum, foliis rugosis, spathulatis, rotundatis ad leviter retusis, revolutis margine, 1–3-nervis, scapis numerosis, prostratis ad adscendentibus, rugosis, ramis sterilibus numerosis, inflorescentia reticulata, ramosa, spicis rectis ad curvatis, bractea inferiore ovata, obtusa, bractea superiore oblongo-ovata, rotundata, calice tubo piloso, lobis ovato-triangularibus, acutis.

Description: —Plant perennial, 15–30 cm tall, pubescent (hairs 0.05–0.1 mm long), with robust tap-root. Caudices branched, 2–5 cm long, densely covered by leaves in the upper part. Leaves rigid, rugose, hairy, green, 1.5–4(–5.5) cm long, 3–9 mm wide, spathulate, revolute at the margin, 1–3-nerved, tapering into a long petiole, rounded to slightly retuse at the apex. Stems numerous, prostrate to ascending, rugose, hairy, with numerous sterile branches, flexuous, fragile at nodes, very branched, diverging at the angle of 50–180°, internodes 4–15 mm long, right to curved. Inflorescence reticulate, branched; spikes 1–2.5 cm long, straight to curved. Spikelets 5–5.5 mm long, 2–3-flowered, 4–5 per cm; outer bract 1.8–2.2 mm long, 1.4–2 mm wide, ovate, obtuse, with the margin narrowly membranous, glabrous, and central part fleshy, hairy, acuminate; middle bract 1.8–2 mm long, 1.2–1.3 mm wide, hemielliptical, rounded, membranous, hairy on the nerves; inner bract 3.5–4 mm long, 2.3–2.5 mm wide, oblong-ovate, rounded, with margin membranous, glabrous, 0.4–0.5 mm wide, with central part fleshy, hairy, 1.5–1.6 mm wide, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.7–0.8 mm long, no reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4–4.6 mm long, exserted 1.8–2 mm from the inner bract, hairy in the tube, with ribs hairy, reaching the middle part of the lobe; calyx lobes, triangular-ovate, acute, 0.9–1 × 0.7–0.8 mm. Corolla lilac.

Etymology: —From “Pharos” old name of Hvar island.

Distribution and ecology: —This species is localized in the northern part of Hvar, island of Central Dalmatia ( Fig 29D ). Here, it is a member of halophilous communities, covering wide calcareous surfaces in contact towards inland with subhalophilous shrubby vegetation.

Additional specimens examined (Paratypes): — CROATIA. Central Dalmatia: Pharia, in rupestribus maritimis, estate, Botteri s.n. ( WU!); Dalmatia , Lesina. Botteri s.n. (M!); Milna , uz more, 13 August 1974, V. Beloti s.n. ( CNHM!); Lesina, 1873, Ressmann s.n. (K!); Lesina, Botteri s.n. (K!) .

Figures

FIGURE 19. Limonium pharosianum. A. Inflorescence branches. B. Spikelets. C. Outer bracts. D. Middle bracts. E. Inner bract (lateral view). F. Inner bracts (dorsal view). G. Calyces. H. Calyx lobes. I. Leaves. J. Leaf indumentum (adaxial face). K. Leaf indumentum (abaxial face) (Illustration by Salvatore Brullo based on Bogdanović & Dujmović s.n.. type CAT).

FIGURE 29. Geographical distribution of Limonium milovicii (A). L. omissae (B). L. velutinum (C). L. pharosianum (D). L. subanfractum (E). L. issaeum (F). L. busianum (G). L. brusnicense (H). L. zankii (I). L. vestitum (J). L. pomoense (K). L. cazzae (L). L. lagostanum (M) and L. pelagosae (N).

FIGURE 48. Habit of Limonium pharosianum from holotype. Bogdanović & Dujmović s.n. (CAT).