Merendera montana (Loefl. ex L.) Lange var. paucitepala J. López-Tirado, 2022

López-Tirado, Javier, 2022, A new variety of Merendera Ramond (Liliaceae): M. montana var. paucitepala var. nov., from south-eastern Spain, Adansonia (3) 44 (2), pp. 11-14 : 12-14

Merendera montana (Loefl. ex L.) Lange var. paucitepala J. López-Tirado , var. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Merendera montana Lange var. paucitepala var. nov. shows four tepals, four stamens and two carpels, differing from the typical variety M. montana var. montana that shows six tepals, six stamens and three carpels.

TYPE. — Spain. Andalusia, Jaén province, Cazorla municipality, Refugio Fuente de Acero , elevation 1500 m, 30SWG1394, 29.VIII.2020, J. López Tirado s.n. (holo-, COA [ COA60573 ]) ; 10.X.2020, J. López Tirado s.n. (para-, COA [ COA60574 ]).

STUDY AREA, HABITAT, PHENOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION. —The study area is located in south-eastern Iberian Peninsula, Spain, Andalusia region and the Baetic range within Jaén province ( Fig. 2 ). This area is a limestone formation, ranging the highest points from 2000 to 2100 m a.s.l. It was growing in a pastureland surrounded by some limestone outcrops and shrubs where Pinus nigra Arnold subsp. salzmannii (Dunal) Franco dominates. Regarding phenology, it was mainly blooming in late August and no leaves were found. In the first half of October, only few scattered flowers were present and most of the specimens were only showing leaves. At this moment, this new variety is exclusive from Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park in Jaén Province.

ETYMOLOGY. — The new variety here described as paucitepala refers to the most evident character: the lower number of tepals in comparison with the typical variety.

DESCRIPTION

Bulbous herb with membranous dark tunic; tunic neck of 1.5-6.8 cm length. Bulb 2.2-3.4 × 1.5-2.8 cm. Cataphyll apex generally obtuse or truncate, more rarely acute, either not mucronate or up to 2 mm when mucronate. Leaves 3(4) per specimen, 2.8-5.2 cm length and 3-4 mm width. Leaf shape from linear to linear-lanceolate, canaliculate, sometimes with minutely denticulate margin, generally developed after the blooming period. Flowers 1 per bulb, subsessile. Tepals 4, 3.1-5.7 × 0.4-1 cm, elliptic, more rarely oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, pink, white at the base. Stamens 4, staminal filaments 0.3-0.65 mm length; anthers 1-1.86 cm length, basifixed, yellow, with teaks separated 0.2-0.8 mm at the base. Anther longer than its staminal filament (anther length/ staminal filament length rate = 1.53-5.76). Styles 2, 4.6-9.6 cm length; stigmas 0.3-1.5 × 0.3-0.8 mm.

NOTES

Populations of Merendera montana with 4 tepals, 4 stamens and 2 styles were found in south-eastern Andalusia and here described as the new variety M.montana var. paucitepala var.nov. Morphometric parameters of the new variety were compared with the typical one ( Rico 2013) and no further differences were detected. Besides the type locality, it was observed near to Tranco del Perro and Refugio Cañada Rincón within Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park. It is expected that this variety could be more spread in Jaén province; surrounding provinces such as Granada and Albacete should be also prospected.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Images of Merendera montana var.paucitepala var.nov.: A, front view of the flower;B, lateral view of the flower; C, front view of the leaves.

FIG. 2. — Location of the type locality within Jaén province. The latter is also shown within Iberian Peninsula at the bottom part on the right.