Muscari inundatum Yıldırım & Eker, 2021

Eker, İsmail & Yildirim, Hasan, 2021, Muscari inundatum (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from southern Anatolia, Phytotaxa 484 (2), pp. 181-194 : 182-190

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/phytotaxa.484.2.3
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CD6D26-EC3E-911F-FF7E-FA1CFD13FE70
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Muscari inundatum Yıldırım & Eker
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Muscari inundatum Yıldırım & Eker View in CoL sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 , 6 View FIGURE 6 )

Muscari inundatum is similar to M. neglectum and M. adilii , but can be distinguished by its shouldered fertile flowers (vs. not shouldered) with erect to slightly recurved lobes (vs. distinctly recurved) at maturity. From M. neglectum it also differs by number of leaves [2–3(–4) vs. 3–8], leaf characteristics (erect to erecto-patent, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, flattened to slightly canaliculate vs. erect-spreading to prostrate, linear and mostly attenuate to base, canaliculate to pseudo-terete), fruiting raceme (not elongating and remaining dense and compact vs. elongating fruiting raceme becomes lax), and fertile flower shape (globose-urceolate to obovoid-urceolate vs. ovoid-urceolate to oblong-urceolate). From M. adilii it also differs by smaller bulb (0.9–1.8 × 0.9–1.8 cm vs. 1.5–3.5 × 1–3 cm), presence of numerous offsets (vs. without offsets), outer tunic colour (blackish-brown vs. brown), leaf characteristics (erect to erecto-patent, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, flattened to slightly canaliculate vs. adpressed, falcate, fleshy, oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, folded, canaliculate), leaf width (0.2–0.6 cm vs. 0.5−2 cm), not elongated pedicels in fruit (vs. elongated pedicels in fruit), smaller capsule (4–5 × 5–6 mm vs. 7–12 × 8–14 mm) with scarcely compressed valves (vs. larger capsule with ± strongly compressed valves), smaller seed (1.5–2 × 1.2–1.5 mm vs. 2–3 × 1.5–2.5 mm) ( Table 1; Figs. 1–6 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 ).

Type:— TURKEY. C6 Hatay: Antakya, Amanos Mountain, above Kisecik Village , Yukarı Zorkun Upland , creek edges in pine forest openings, 1518 m a.s.l., 28 April 2020, İ. Eker 12808 (holotype AIBU!; isotypes AIBU!, EGE!) .

Paratypes:— TURKEY. C6 Hatay: Antakya, Amanos Mountain, 1 km from Hacıahmetli Village-radar road junction to Hacıahmetli Village , creek edges in pine forest openings, 1536 m a.s.l., 08 May 2018, İ. Eker 12560 (in fruit) (AIBU!); Antakya, Amanos Mountain , above Kisecik Village , Aşağı Zorkun Upland, creek edges in pine forest openings, 1348 m a.s.l., 08 May 2018, İ. Eker 12561 (İn fruit) (AIBU!) .

Description:— Bulb ovoid to globose-ovoid, 0.9 – 1.8 × 0.9 – 1.8 cm, with numerous offsets. Outer tunics papery, blackish-brown; inner tunics membranous, beige and white dotted. Leaves 2 – 3(–4) per scape, erect to erecto-patent, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, flattened to slightly canaliculate, 7 – 32 × 0.2 – 0.6 cm, green, without a white line on upper surface, glabrous, acute to acuminate. Scape 1(–2) per bulb, 9 – 28 cm long, not elongating in fruit, shorter or longer than leaves or equal. Raceme dense, cylindrical to ovate, 1 – 2 × 0.7 – 1.2 cm in flower, not elongating in fruit and fruiting raceme remaining dense and compact. Pedicels of fertile flowers 0.5 – 1.8 mm long, shorter than perianth, deflexed, not elongating in fruit. Fertile flowers globose-urceolate to obovoid-urceolate, 3 – 5 × 3 – 4 mm, shouldered becoming prominent in the mature stage distally and strongly constricted (orifice 1–2 mm), blackish blue; lobes c. 0.6 – 1 mm long, white suffused with violet, and turns completely violet in older or dry flowers, erect to slightly recurved. Pedicels of sterile flowers 0.1–1 mm long, erect, semierect to patent, shorter than sterile flowers. Sterile flowers narrowly obovate, 2.5–3.5 × 1 – 2.5 mm, paler than the fertile ones. Stamens biseriate, filaments c. 0.8 mm long, whitish suffused with violet, lower series attached about the middle of the tube and upper series 0.5 mm above lower ones. anthers purplish-black, 1 – 1.2 mm, pollen light yellow. Ovary green, globose, c. 1.5 × 1.5 mm; style white, c. 1 mm long. Capsule oblate, not or slightly emarginate, with scarcely compressed valves, 4 – 5 × 5 – 6 mm. Seeds 1.5 – 2 × 1.2 – 1.5 mm, ovoid; surface rugose, black. Flowering and fruiting in April–May.

Eponymy: —The specific epithet of the new species is derived from its habitat, as it grows in flooded places and near puddles.

Turkish vernacular name: — Muscari is called “ Müşkürüm ” or “ Sümbül ” in Turkish. The authors propose “ Hatay sümbülü ” as a vernacular name for M. inundatum according to the guidelines of Menemen et al. (2016).

Distribution and habitat: — Muscari inundatum is only known from a very restricted area in the southern part of Amanos Mountain in Hatay province ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ). It shows a natural distribution along the creeks in pine forest openings on the serpentine bedrock at 1300–1550 m of elevation. The natural environment of the new species is quite specific and grows with some endemic species in its immediate vicinity: Aethionema schistosum Boissier & Kotschy (1856: 42) , Allium arsuzense Eker & Koyuncu (2011: 392) , Muscari babachii Eker & Koyuncu (2008: 49) , Scilla arsusiana Yıldırım & Gemici (2014: 38) and Thurya capitata Boissier & Balansa (1856: 64) . The new species is a plant belonging to the East Mediterranean floristic region according to the global floristic region designations of Takhtajan (1986).

Conservation assessment: —Less than 1,000 mature individuals were observed at the type locality of Muscari inundatum , which covers an area of less than 5 km 2. It is also likely to be found in similar habitats in the immediate vicinity. However, recent fires in the area have damaged forest habitats. Future fires may have a very serious impact on the species. Therefore, due to its restricted population, number of locality (3) and number of mature individuals, the species may be classified as Vulnerable (VU) (criteria D1; D2) ( IUCN 2019).

Taxonomic relationships: — Muscari species living in aquatic ecosystems have not been adequately investigated in Turkey. So much so that, M. botryoides ( Linnaeus 1753: 318) Miller (1768: 1) , which is a fairly common in Turkey was not included in the flora by Davis & Stuart 1984, and M. microstomum Davis & Stuart (1966: 124) , which has a much wider distribution (personal observations), was given only for two records in Central Anatolia. Only recently, a new Muscari species adapted to the aquatic habitat, M. fatmacereniae Eker (2019: 102) , has been discovered in Turkey. Muscari neglectum is the most widespread Muscari species in Anatolia and in the world, probably due to its high morphological plasticity that ensures tolerance to different ecological niches. Muscari neglectum can be also considered the likely ancestor of many species which were recently described in Turkey. During our field studies, we observed that M. adilii , M. anatolicum Cowley & Özhatay (1994: 485) , M. atillae Yıldırım (2015: 291) and M. sivrihisardaghlarense Yıldırımlı & Selvi (2002: 9) were accompanied by M. neglectum . The point that should be noted here is that many species separated from M. neglectum are peculiar to specific habitats. For example, M. adilii was adapted to marly soils and M. sivrihisardaghlarense to gypseous soils and both are morphologically differentiated. Likewise, M. inundatum , which has adapted to aquatic habitats, is also probably a differentiated species from M. neglectum . However, M. inundatum is more similar to M. adilii rather than M. neglectum ( Table 1; Figs. 1–6 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 ).

Selected specimens examined:— Muscari adilii . TURKEY. A3 Ankara: Beypazarı, Sekli Village, Doğandede Hill , around Kocaahmet Fountain , marly area, 990 m a.s.l., 10 April 1998, M.B. Güner 1058 et al. (holotype: GAZI!; isotypes: GAZI!, HUB!) ; between Beypazarı-Çayırhan, Uyku Çiftliği district, oak and pine forest clearing, 950–1000 m a.s.l., 11 May 1999, M.B. Güner 1451 (in fruit) (GAZI!); Beypazarı, Doğandede Hill, Uyku Stream, oak and pine forest clearing, 900-950 m a.s.l., 08 April 1998, M.B. Güner 1026 et al. (HUB!); Beypazarı, hills on the south of Hırkatepe Village , marly areas, 853 m a.s.l., 05 May 2014, I. Eker 4337 (in fruit) (AIBU!); Nallıhan, Davutoğlan Kuş Cenneti, 503 m a.s.l., 18 May 2014, İ. Eker 4484 (in fruit) (AIBU!); A4 Ankara: Kızılcahamam, Soğuksu National Park , stony slopes in the oak openings, 1108 m a.s.l., 04 May 2014, İ. Eker 4264 (in fruit) (AIBU!). Muscari neglectum . TURKEY. Al(A) Çanakkale: Renkoei ( Erenköy ), 14 April 1883, P. Sintenis 1229 (E 00345721!); A1(E) Kırklareli: between Vize-Pınarhisar, 19 km to Pınarhisar , 224 m a.s.l., 13 March 2002, N. Özhatay et al. (ISTE 80847!); A2(A) İstanbul: Pendik, Dolayoba , maquis, 27 March 1953, H. Demiriz 1290 (E 00345683!); A2(E) İstanbul: Yeşilköy, near Yeşilköy Airport , stony meadow, 03 April 1961, H. Demiriz 4242 (E 00129975!); A3 Bolu: Göynük, around Lake Çubuk , meadow, 1033 m a.s.l., 05 April 2013, İ. Eker 3153 (AIBU!); A4 Ankara: Keçiören, Bağlum road, fallow fields, c. 1000 m a.s.l., 17 April 1994, G. Akaydın 2591 (G!); A5 Sinop: Gerne, İnceburun , coarse volcanic sand, 15 m a.s.l., 01 May 1967, C. Tobey 1704 (E 00345694!); A6 Ordu: Çambaşı road, open pasture, 450 m a.s.l., 06 March 1966, C. Tobey 1514 (E 00345715!); A8 Artvin: around Yusufeli, Juniperus-Paliurus bushes openings, 850 m a.s.l., 03 April 1996, A.A. Dönmez 5153 (HUB 34842!) ; A9 Iğdır: Tuzluca, around Turabi Village , steppe, 985 m a.s.l., 24 April 2002, A.A. Dönmez 10548 (HUB!); B1 İzmir: between Torbalı-Ephesus (Efes), in degraded Paliurus-Asphodelus scrub, 50 m a.s.l., 22 March 1956, P.H. Davis 25158 & O. Polunin (BM!, E 00345759!, K!); B2 Balıkesir: Bigadiç , fallow field, 150 m a.s.l., 21 March 1956, P.H. Davis 25142 & O. Polunin (ANK!, BM!, E 00345687!, K!); B3 Afyon: Railway station surroundings, rocky, 1020 m a.s.l., 09 April 1994, A.A. Dönmez 4046 (HUB 34810! & GAZI!); B4 Ankara: Summit of Hüseyin Gazi Hill , 1400 m a.s.l., 29 March 1942, J. Romieux & A. Huber-Morath s.n. (G!); B5 Nevşehir: Ürgüp, Akdağ , steppe, 1400 m a.s.l., 23 March 1989, M. Vural et al. 4396 (GAZI!); B6 Malatya: Akçadağ, Levent Valley , river edge, sandy soils, 1148 m a.s.l., 11 April 2020, İ. Eker 12783 (AIBU!); B7 Tunceli: Çemişgezek, above Gülbahçe Village , stony and rocky slopes, 1852 m a.s.l., 08 May 2020, İ. Eker 12920 (AIBU!); B9 Van: City centre, Cumhuriyet Street, Yörükevleri , orchards, 1729 m a.s.l., 01 May 2007, İ. Eker 1843 (AIBU!); C1 İzmir: Selçuk, Ephesus ( Efes ), slopes of hill to the south of the site, among short grass in stony places, 24 March 1985, C.C. Townsend 85/18 (K!); C2 Aydın: Karacasu, Aphrodisias ( Geyre ), ruins, 600–700 m a.s.l., 22 April 1965, P.H. Davis 41615 (E 00345763!); C3 Antalya: Akseki, pass above Akseki, rocky open slopes in Abies forest, 1500 m a.s.l., 09 April 1956, P.H. Davis 25782 & O. Polunin (ANK!); C4 İçel: Mut, Büyük Eğri Mountain , limestone rock crevices, c. 2100 m a.s.l., 12 May 1965, M.J.E. Coode & B.M.G. Jones 864 (E 00345765!); C5 Niğde: Aladağlar, upper valley near Yedigöller , soily scree, 3048 m a.s.l., 25 May 1964, P.W. Wood & B. Gibson UT 96 (E 00345697!); C6 Hatay: Antakya, Amanoslar, upper parts of Kisecik Village , Yukarı Zorkun Upland , pine forest openings, meadow, 1511 m a.s.l., 28 April 2020, İ. Eker 12809 (AIBU!); C7 Şanlıurfa: Tektek Mountains, around Karakuş Village , step areas at field margins, 640 m a.s.l., 20 March 2003, İ. Eker 358 (AIBU!); C10 Hakkari: Yüksekova, Esendere , borderline, northern parts, 1700–1800 m a.s.l., 19 April 1979, A. Güner 1885 (HUB 34833!) .