Orobanche javakhetica Piwow., Ó. Sánchez & Moreno Mor. (2018b: 137)

Piwowarczyk, Renata, Pedraja, Óscar Sánchez, Khutsishvili, Manana & Kharazishvili, Davit, 2023, Holoparasitic Orobanchaceae in Georgia (Caucasus): taxonomic revision, diversity, distribution, habitats and host range, Phytotaxa 604 (1), pp. 1-103 : 86-87

21. Orobanche javakhetica Piwow., Ó. Sánchez & Moreno Mor. (2018b: 137)

. Type:— ARMENIA (holotype designated by Piwowarczyk et al. 2018b: 137): Shirak prov.: E of village Ghazanchi , 22 July 2017, R. Piwowarczyk (KTC!). Fig. 60 .

General distribution: —Probably endemic to the Caucasus, described from Armenia ( Piwowarczyk et al. 2018b), and recently found in Georgia. In 2018, a large population (over 200 individuals) was found in Georgia, Svaneti region, near Ushguli ( Piwowarczyk et al. 2019).

Distribution: —Single localities in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti prov., and needs confirmation in Kakheti prov. in

Tusheti distr. ( Fig. 61 ).

Habitat: —In Georgia, in subalpine meadows, rocky slopes, usually at 2200–2600 m.

Hosts: —In Georgia, parasitic on Stachys macrantha (K. Koch) Stearn [syn. Betonica macrantha K. Koch ] ( Lamiaceae ). In Armenia, it can also be parasitic on Lomelosia caucasica [ Scabiosa caucasica M. Bieb. ] ( Dipsacaceae ) ( Piwowarczyk et al. 2019).

Phenology: —Flowering in July, fruiting in August.

Conservation status: —Endangered (EN) – B 1 ab (iii) + 2 ab (iii). EOO is less than 5000 km 2, severely fragmented existing at no more than 5 localities (1 province), AOO is less than 500 km 2, severely fragmented, existing at no more than 5 localities (2 known). Subpopulations are usually numerous, but may be threatened by overgrazing.

Notes: —In a recent phylogenetic study, we confirmed that O. javakhetica is distinct from the other studied species. ITS sequence does not resolve the position of O. javakhetica within other Orobanche species, however, trees based on trnL–trnF sequences show a common clade with O. gracilis (O. subsect. Cruentae Teryokhin) ( Piwowarczyk et al. 2021a). Morphologically, there seems to be some similarity to the O. subsect. Orobanche (subsect. Galeatae sensu Teryokhin) and O. subsect. Curvatae (particularly with species of the O. ser. Krylowianae ) ( Piwowarczyk et al. 2018b). Perhaps finding other new species related to O. javakhetica will be helpful in confirming more precise phylogenetic relationships of this species. The divergence time of this species is 2.4 Ma, and it is one of the oldest lineages of Orobancheae ( Piwowarczyk et al. 2021a).

Specimens examined: — GEORGIA. Kakheti prov.: Tusheti distr., Chigho , south slope, 1700–1800 m, 24 July 1988, D. Chelidze ( TBI) [badly preserved specimen, need confirmation in the field] ; Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti prov.: Ushguli NE to Mt. Shkhara, subalpine meadows, slopes of Enguri river valley, 42°56’53’’N, 43°03’59’’E, 2200–2600 m, 24 July 2018, R. Piwowarczyk ( KTC); NE of Mazeri vil., subalpine rocky slope, 43°5’10.58”N, 42°38’0.11”E, 2400 m, 24 May 2019, M. Podsiedlik [phot. of dry specimen in S. macrantha clump] .

Figures

FIGURE 60. Orobanche javakhetica. A–C. General habit. D–F. Flower, side view. G. Flower, front view. H, J. Representative habitat (Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti prov., Ushguli to Mt. Shkhara, slopes of Enguri river valley). I–J. Host. Stachys macrantha. Photos by R. Piwowarczyk.

FIGURE 61. Distribution of Orobanche javakhetica in Georgia.