Sabulina nerimanae Koç & Hamzaoğlu, 2021

Koç, Murat, Hamzaoğlu, Ergin & Aksoy, Ahmet, 2021, Molecular and morphological evidences of Sabulina nerimanae sp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae), Phytotaxa 498 (4), pp. 281-289 : 284-287

Sabulina nerimanae Koç & Hamzaoğlu , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2–3 ).

Type: [ Turkey C2 Burdur] Altınyayla district, between Ören to Ballıköy , calcereous rocks, 1320 m, 26.06.2015, Koç 2054, Hamzaoğlu & Aksoy (holotype GAZI, isotype ANK, GAZI) .

Paratype [ Turkey C2 Burdur] Maşta (Ballık), Ören , 1.5 km before Karanlıkiçi canyon, 1350 m, 08 July 1996 H . Duman , N. & E . Özhatay ( ISTE –72306)

Diagnosis:― Sabulina nerimanae is similar to S. gracilis from which differs by it has an annual habit (vs. biennial or perennial), sterile shoots and leaves absent (vs. present in S. gracilis ), sepals 3.5–4.5 mm long (vs. 2.5–3.5 mm), petals oblanceolate (vs. oblong-elliptic), 5.5–6.5 mm long (vs. 3.5–5.0 mm); capsules 5.5–7.5 mm long (vs. 3.2–4.5 mm), as long as or slightly longer than sepals (vs. 1.5 times as long as sepals).

Description:― Annual herb. Stems numerous, ascending or erect, prolifically branching, 5–15 cm long, 0.8–1.0 mm in diameter, radially spreading from the taproot, densely glandular hairy, greenish, nodes 3–7. Sterile shoots and leaves absent. Leaves linear–setaceous, ascending to nearly appressed, 5.0–10.0 × 0.5–0.8 mm, sheath scarious, glandular hairy, 3–nerved (midvein and two lateral), greenish, falcate, margin 0.1 mm membranous, apex acute to acuminate, leaf–fascicles absent. Bracts lanceolate, 2.0–4.0 × 0.7–1.0 mm, glabrous to glandular hairy, 3–nerved (midvein and two lateral), greenish, margin 0.1 mm, membranous, apex acute. Inflorescence terminal and lateral cymes, lax, dichasial, 6–20–flowered, normally also with solitary terminal flowers. Pedicels 7–20 mm long, glabrous or glandular hairy. Sepals lanceolate, spreading–ascending at anthesis, 3.5–4.5 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, glandular hairy, distinctly 3–nerved, greenish, scarious margins ca. 0.1–0.3 mm wide, apex acuminate. Petals oblanceolate, spreading, 5.5–6.5 × 0.8–1.0 mm, 1.5 times as long as sepals, apex rounded, entire to slightly emarginate, base cuneate. Stamens 10, filaments 5–8 mm long, whitish, anthers 0.4–0.5 mm, orbiculate, staminal glands base of outer stamens. Ovary superior,placentation shortly free–central. Styles 2–3 mm, apex rounded, distinct. Capsules ovoid, 4–8–seeded, light green to greenish–tan, 3.2–4.5 × 1.2–1.5 mm, as long as or slightly longer than sepals. Seeds of Sabulina nerimanae are reniform, 4–8 per capsule, with radicle prolonged into rounded bump, 0.3–0.5 × 0.3–0.4 mm, brown, granulate, somewhat compressed, the ventral surface papillate, anticlinal walls are straight, V–undulate, granulate, cells elongated rectangular; the dorsal surface papillate, anticlinal walls are straight, V–undulate, cells rectangular.

Etymology:― The species is dedicated to the eminent botanist Prof. Dr. Neriman Özhatay (Istanbul University, İstanbul / Turkey).

Distribution and ecology:― Sabulina nerimanae grows on stony places (calcareous rocks) at 1320 m a.s.l. in Altınyayla district (Burdur province) ( Fig. 4). Altınyayla district is located in the Mediterranean phytogeographic region. S. nerimanae occurs within open Oak-Juniper woodlands together with Bromus tectorum Linnaeus (1753: 77) , Centaurium erythraea Rafinesque (1800: 75) subsp. turcicum (Velenovskı 1886: 31) Melderis (1972: 232) , Cerastium brachypetalum Persoon (1805: 520) subsp. roeseri (Boissier & Heldreich 1854: 93) Nyman (1878: 109) , Micromeria cristata (Hampe 1837: 233) Grisebach (1844: 122) subsp. phrygia P.H.Davis (1980: 40) , Poa bulbosa Linnaeus (1753: 70) , Saponaria mesogitana Boissier (1843: 16) , Stipa holosericea Trinius (1831: 81) , and Telephium imperati Linnaeus (1753: 271) subsp. orientale (Boissier 1849: 11) Nyman (1879: 254) .

Phenology:― Flowering time June–July, fruiting time July–August.

Conservation status:― Sabulina nerimanae is known only from two population in locus classicus (Altınyayla district, Burdur province). It cover an EOO of about 50 km 2. The number of individuals is approximately 2000. No threat has been observed for the species in the area. Based on available data, it is proposed that the species should be classified as Vulnerable (VU) by the application of the criterion B1a of the IUCN Red List (2014).

Key to the related species of genus Sabulina in Turkey:― It follows:

1. Annual or rarely biennial/perennial and herbs ...................................................................................................................................2

- Perennial and tufted to cushion-forming herbs ................................................................................................................................11

2. Petals short or as long as sepals..........................................................................................................................................................3

- Petals 1.2–1.5 times as long as sepals ................................................................................................................................................8

3. Sepals ovate-lanceolate to ovate, up to 2.5 times longer than broad..................................................................................................4

- Sepals linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 2.5 times longer than broad...................................................................................................6

4. Leaves and bracts 1-nerved towards apex; sepals ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm long; capsules globose; seed cells tuberculate and papillate .. ...................................................................................................................................................................... S. subtilis subsp. subtilis

- Leaves and bracts 3-nerved towards apex; sepals ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–4 mm long; capsules cylindirical, seed cells smooth and papillate ..............................................................................................................................................................................................5

5. Sepals 3–5 mm long ....................................................................................................................... S. mesogitana subsp. mesogitana

- Sepals 2–3 mm long ....................................................................................................................... S. mesogitana subsp. kotschyana

6. Sepals lanceolate, long acuminate at apex; seeds ventral surface cells smooth, dorsal surface cells papillate....................... S. lydia

- Sepals linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate at apex; seeds ventral and dorsal surface papillate......................................................7

7. Sepals linear-lanceolate; petals 2/3 as long as sepals.......................................................................... S. tenuifolia subsp. tenuifolia

- Sepals lanceolate; petals as long as sepals ............................................................................................... S. tenuifolia subsp. turcica

8. Sepals ovat-lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm long; petals widely elliptic ..........................................................................................................9

- Sepals lanceolate, 2.5–4.5 mm long; petals oblong-elliptic or oblanceolate....................................................................................10

9. Capsules ovate, as long as sepals; seeds ventral and dorsal surface papillate.............................. S. mesogitana subsp. brachycarpa

- Capsules cylindirical, 1.5 times as long as sepals: seeds ventral and dorsal surface tuberculate ........................................................ ....................................................................................................................................................... S. mesogitana subsp. macrocarpa

10. Sepals 2.5–3.5 mm long; petals oblong-elliptic; capsules 1.5 times as long as sepals ....................................................... S. gracilis

- Sepals 3.5–4.5 mm long; petals oblanceolate; capsules as long as or slightly longer than sepals................................. S. nerimanae

11. Petals as long as sepals........................................................................................................................................................ S. asiyeae

11. Petals 1.5 times as long as sepals ................................................................................................................................. S. tortumensis

Additional specimens examined:― Sabulina gracilis . TURKEY. A4 Kastamonu: Küre district, Ersizler village, 850 m, 28 June 2014, Koç , Hamzaoğlu & Aksoy 1551 ( GAZI); Kastamonu: Between Küre and Inebolu, 730 m, 28 June 2014, Koç, Hamzaoğlu & Aksoy 1552 ( GAZI); Karabük: Çerçen village , Çerçen hill, 450–500 m, 27 June 2014, Koç, Hamzaoğlu & Aksoy 1550 ( GAZI); Kastamonu: Küre district , ca. 730 m, 07 June 1954, Davis s.n. (21616– ANK) ; A5 Kastamonu: Between Devrekhanı and Bozkurt, Yaralıgöz mountain , Mehmetler village , 1785 m, 12.08.2014, Koç, Hamzaoğlu & Aksoy 1804 ( GAZI) .

Specimens used for DNA isolation (all collected from Turkey):― Sabulina mesogitana subsp. mesogitana . Sivas: Yıldızeli district , 1340 m, Koç 1410, Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu ( GAZI) .

Sabulina mesogitana subsp. macrocarpa . Antalya: Serik district, Kumköy village , 3 m, 01.06.2015, Koç 1967, Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu (GAZI).

Sabulina mesogitana subsp. brachycarpa . Niğde: Çamardı district, Yelatan village , 1320 m, 02.06.2015, Koç 1970, Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu (GAZI).

Sabulina mesogitana subsp. kotschyana . Izmir: Kemalpaşa district, Nif mountain, Koç 1738, Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu (GAZI).

Sabulina tenuifolia subsp. tenuifolia . Yozgat: Between Boğazlıyan and Yozgat, ca. 10 km, 1100 m, Koç 1710, Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu (GAZI).

Sabulina tenuifolia subsp. turcica . Kırşehir: Delice district , 1300 m, 08.06.2011, Koç 1371, Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu (GAZI).

Sabulina gracilis . Karabük: Çerçen village, Çerçen hill, 450–500 m, 27.06.2014, Koç 1550, Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu ( GAZI) .

Sabulina nerimanae . Burdur: Altınyayla district , between Altınyayla and Ballı village, 1290 m, 26.06.2015, Koç 2054, Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu ( GAZI) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Sabulina nerimanae: (A) habit, (B) flower, (C) cyme, (D) bract, (E) sepal, (F) petal, (G) gland, (H) capsule.