Aubrieta birolmutlui Dönmez, Uğurlu & Yüzb., 2023

Dönmez, Ali A., Aydin, Zübeyde Uğurlu, Kaya, Yasin & Yüzbaşioğlu, İ. Sirri, 2023, Aubrieta birolmutlui (Brassicaceae), a new species from Eastern Turkey with molecular phylogenetic support, Phytotaxa 579 (4), pp. 278-288 : 280-282

Aubrieta birolmutlui Dönmez, Uğurlu & Yüzb. , sp. nov. ( Figure 1A–D )

Type: — TURKEY. B6 Kahramanmaraş: Nurhak, Barış district , above the valley, limestone wall, 37°59’49.9’’N, 37°17’22.5’’E, 1670 m, 25 May 2018, A. A. Dönmez 20010 (holotype: HUB!; isotypes: INU!, HUB!, ISTF!) .

Paratypes:— TURKEY. B6 Kahramanmaraş: Nurhak, Barış district , above the valley, limestone wall, 37°59’49.9’’N, 37°17’22.5’’E, 1670 m, 25 May 2018 , A. A. Dönmez 20025 ( HUB!); ibid. 16 May 2019, A. A. Dönmez 20360- S. Yüzbaşıoğlu & Z. Aydın ( HUB!); ibid. 16 May 2019, A. A. Dönmez 20362- S. Yüzbaşıoğlu & Z. Aydın ( HUB!) .

Diagnosis: —The new species is allied to Aubrieta macrostyla (Hub.-Mor. & Cullen) M.A. Koch, D.A. German & R. Karl in Koch et al. (2017: 55), but Aubrieta birolmutlui differs from it by having only basal leaves, entire leaf margin, elliptic leaves, larger leaf size, sparse indumentum on leaves, longer fruit and shorter style. The new species is related to A. libanotica Boiss. & Hohen. ( Boissier 1849: 32) and it is differed from it by having aggregated rosette (versus distributed lower half of stem), elliptic (versus oblanceolate), entire (versus teethed), sessile (versus winged petiole) and bigger (versus smaller) leaves; sparsely hairy (versus densely) hairy indumentum; longer (versus shorter) fruit and shorter (versus longer style). The new species is also close to A. canescens Boissier (1867: 252) Bornmüller (1936: 44) but it differs from it by an aggregated rosette (versus distributed lower half of stem), elliptic (versus oblanceolate), entire (versus teethed), sessile (versus winged petiole) and bigger (versus smaller) leaves; sparsely hairy (versus densely) hairy indumentum.

Densely caespitose chasmophytic herbs, 6–10 cm height. Stems covered mixture of short and long hairs; simple, forked and dendroid hairs at lower and (3-) 4–5-rayed dendroid hairs in inflorescence. Leaves aggregated at base, entire, sessile, elliptic, largest at middle, 12–15 × 7–9 mm, acute. Racemes lax, slender, with 3–5 flowers, densely pubescent. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 × 1–2 mm, pubescent, with short and long hairs, glabrous inside, inner sepals saccate, margins membranous, apex obtuse, cucullate. Petals violet, 12–15 × 5–7 mm, well differentiated into widely obovate limb and linear claw. Filaments narrowly winged; median ones 8–9 mm, laterals (short two) 5–6 mm, with mucrolike lateral appendage; anthers narrowly elliptic, 1.4–1.8 × 0.5–0.6 mm. Fruit narrowly oblong, 10–12 × 2.9–3.3 mm (excluding style), straight, sometimes slightly curved, terete in cross section; uniformly pubescent with short-stalked 2–5- rayed trichomes, mature valves slightly reticulate-veined; style 4–5 mm; stigma capitate, entire. Seeds biseriate, c. 16 in each locule, dark brown, blackish, oblong, wingless, not mucilaginous when wetted, 1.2–1.3 × 0.5–0.6 mm, papillate in regular lines.

Phenology:— Flowering in April–May; mature fruiting in May–June.

Distribution and habitat:— The specimens of Aubrieta birolmutlui are growing on the limestone rock walls in Nurhak Mountain in Turkey ( Figures 1 and 2 ). Since many specimens are growing on rock walls, there is not a distinct threat to the species based on human activities. However, since the distribution range of the species is relatively narrow (less than 10 km ²), and considering the IUCN threat evaluation criteria, based on geographic distribution and population size we proposed a CR (B1a+2a) threat category for the species ( IUCN 2019).

Etymology:— The specific epithet honours the plant taxonomist Birol Mutlu, who has made a significant contribution to the taxonomy of Turkish Brassicaceae .

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–C Habit and habitat of Aubrieta birolmutlui (arrow shows the fruiting individuals) B Close view of A. birolmutlui with flowers and leaf indumentum (A.A. Dönmez 20360) D Close view of the fruits (A.A. Dönmez 20010) (photos by Dönmez).

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Aubrieta birolmutlui (), A. macrostyla (■), A. canescens subsp. canescens (), A. canescens subsp. cilicica (●), and A. libanotica (▲).