Dionysia zeynepiae Güzel, 2021

Güzel, Yelda, 2021, A new Dionysia (Primulaceae) species from southern Turkey, the most western species of the Irano-Turanian genus, Phytotaxa 525 (4), pp. 281-294 : 282-285

Dionysia zeynepiae Güzel sp. nov. ( Fig. 1–12 ).

Type: — TURKEY. C6 Hatay: Antakya, Habib-i Neccar Mountain, Demirkapı vicinity, rock crevices of the cliffs, 36°12′26″N 36°10′53″E, 195 m elevation, 2 February 2021 , Y. Güzel 3450 (holotype: HUB; isotype: ANK).

Diagnosis: —The new species differs from all other species of the genus by its trifid and bifid apices of the corolla lobes, which are not present in any other known species of Dionysia . Although it is most closely related to D. odora in terms of habit and leaf shape and size (both lack a floral scape and leaves are 2–5 mm long), the latter species shows the corolla lobes entire. Furthermore, D. zeynepiae differs from D. odora mainly by its 9–16 mm long corolla (vs. 24–26 mm in the latter), calyx 2–3 mm long (vs. 3.5–4.5 mm), and marcescent leaves that fall off (vs. not falling off and giving a columnar appearance in the latter), among other differences affecting the indumentum, calyx division, bract length and shape, corolla limb diameter, and leaf shape (see more details below).

Description: —Caespitose perennial forming dense cushions 2–10 × 7–20 cm ( Fig. 1 ). Branches very densely leafy; each branch ends in a tight, sessile terminal leaf whorl that surrounds a sole, sessile terminal flower ( Fig. 2 ). Scapes absent, and no distinct leaf glomerules (occasionally two glomerules: the lower one formed by marcescent leaves about to fall off). Marcescent leaves brown, falling off over time. Leaves sessile, 2–5 × 1–2 mm, oblong with deeply 3-lobed apex ( Fig. 3 ), lobes lanceolate; apex of outer wilting leaves 4–5 lobed; all leaves indistinctly veined. Indumentum of leaves, bracts, calyx and corolla densely glandular hairy, in all cases formed by three types of hairs: long stalked, short stalked, and sessile ones ( Fig. 4 ). Bract 1, 2– 3 mm long, foliaceous, toothed or lobed with three lobes at the apex. Flowers solitary, sessile, yellow, and heterostylous. Calyx divided to base; sepals 2–3 mm long, oblanceolate, toothed at the apex with 2–3 teeth ( Fig. 5 ). There are two types of flowers on two different individual plants. First, individuals with long-styled (‘pin’) flowers show style longer than stamens, overtopping up to 2 mm the corolla tube or equalling it in length ( Fig. 6 , Fig. 7 ); anthers epipetalous, attached halfway down the tube, so corolla tube expands at the middle and gives corolla tube champagne flute appearance (or narrowly infundibular). Second, individuals with short-styled flowers show the stigma placed in about the middle of the corolla, therefore standing below the anthers and not visible from outside ( Fig. 8 , Fig. 9 ); anthers attached near the mouth of the corolla tube, so the corolla tube expands near the top and looks like a narrow tube that slightly widens towards the top. Corolla length is 9–12 mm with tube 6–11 mm in the long-styled flowers (shorter flower) ( Fig. 10 Aa, 10Ba), and 11–16 mm with tube 11–13 mm in the short-styled flowers (longer flower) ( Fig. 10 Ab, 10Bb). Corolla limb diameter 7–8 mm in all flowers, with lobes 2–3 mm long and apices trifid and bifid (there can be exceptionally entire corolla lobes in some flowers) ( Fig. 11 , Fig. 12 ). Anthers 1 mm long, yellow, Ovary obovate. Capsule 5valved, broadly ovate. Seeds 2–5 per capsule.

Flowering: —January to February.

Eponymy: —Zeynep is one of the most widely used female names in Turkey, which means beauty and has an Arabic origin (or fathers’ beauty). As an unusual beauty that grows on rocks under extreme conditions, the new species reminded me of the beauty and strength of women. Hence, I chose to attribute this species to them, including my daughter.

Proposed Turkish name for the new species: — Dionysia is called “Işıkotu” in Turkish. Means “herb of lights”. I propose “Zeynep Işıkçiçeği”, means “flower of lights” as a vernacular name for D. zeynepiae

Habitat and ecology: —The new species grows in the crevices of calcareous rocks of the cliffs. Because Antakya is a Mediterranean coastal city, the elevation starts from 0 m, and the elevation of the mountains is not as high as the mountains of Iran, Iraq, or the southeastern border provinces of Turkey. Although it is a mountain species like others in the genus, it however can be found only at low elevations between 190 and 400 m, usually occurring together with Stachys pumila Banks & Solander (1794: 255) . ( Fig. 13 ).

Distribution and proposed conservation status: — Dionysia zeynepiae is endemic to Mount Habib-i Neccar (fomerly Mount Silpius), near Antakya. The only known population was found in rocky habitats of an area close to where the city gradually expands towards the mountain. The new species occurs within an area smaller than 10 km 2 and the whole area of the mountain where the habitat is potentially located is smaller than 100 km 2. Active quarries were established on the rocky regions of the mountain, which specifically affect the natural habitat of the species, it being under intense and continuous anthropogenic pressure. This fact allows to infer a rapid diminution of the population in a next future if conservation measures are not established. Consequently, in accordance with the B1 and B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv) criteria of the IUCN (2019), D. zeynepiae is herein assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).

Figures

FIGURE 1. General appearance of Dionysia zeynepiae.

FIGURE 2. A branch of Dionysia zeynepiae.

FIGURE 3. Leaves, bract, and calyx of Dionysia zeynepiae.

FIGURE 4. Indumentum of Dionysia zeynepiae.

FIGURE 5. Bract and calyx of Dionysia zeynepiae.

FIGURE 6. Habitus of an individual of the long-styled flowers of Dionysia zeynepiae. Style exserted from the corolla tube or about equalling it.Anthers attached halfway down the tube, so the corolla tube expands at the middle and gives the corolla tube champagne flute appearance (or narrow infundibular).

FIGURE 7. Close-up of the long-styled flowers of Dionysia zeynepiae. Style is exserted from the corolla tube or as long as it.

FIGURE 8. Habitus of an individual of the short-styled flowers. Anthers attached near the mouth of the corolla tube, so the corolla tube expands near the top and looks like a narrow tube that slightly widens towards the top. Stigma seated near the middle of the corolla tube, and is not visible from outside.

FIGURE 9. Close-up of the short-styled flower of Dionysia zeynepiae. Apices of the anthers can be seen at the mouth of the corolla tube. Style not visible because it is shorter than the stamens, and remains within the corolla tube.

FIGURE 10. Dionysia zeynepiae. Outside (A) and inside (B) appearance of the long-styled (a) and short-styled (b) flowers.

FIGURE 11. Trifid corolla lobe apices of Dionysia zeynepiae.

FIGURE 12. Trifid (and bifid in some lobes) corolla lobe apices of Dionysia zeynepiae.

FIGURE 13. Habitat of Dionysia zeynepiae. with Stachys pumila, at the type locality near Antakya (southern Turkey).