Limonium taenari Erben & Brullo, 2016

Brullo, Salvatore & Erben, Matthias, 2016, The genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) in Greece, Phytotaxa 240 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

67. Limonium taenari Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 67 )

Type:— GREECE. Peloponnese: Peloponneso, Marmari, Akro Tenaro , 4 September 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (holotype MSB-164023!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, glauca, 15–40 cm alta, foliis 10–60 × 2–8 mm, anguste oblongo-spathulatis, mucronatis, punctatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus paucis, verrucosis vel tuberculatis, ramosissimis, saepe proliferis, ramis sterilibus paucis, 1–3 per caulem, spiculis 8.5–9.5 mm longis, 1(–2)-floris, ad 2–3 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.8–3.0 × 1.9–2.2 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice obtusa, bractea media 2.8–3.5 × 1.8–2.2 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 7.3–8.0 × 3.4–4.2 mm, oblongo-obovata, apice rotundata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 6.4–7.2 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.5–2.0 mm exserto, tubo glabro, lobis calycis ca. 0.9 × 1.0 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a large sub-shrub 15–40 cm tall, with few to some ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 5–10 cm long, densely branched, densely spirally leafy in the upper half. Leaves fleshy, rigid, dotted, glaucous, flat, 10–60 mm long and 2–8 mm broad, narrowly oblong-spathulate,

148 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 149 apex obtuse to round, mucronate, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 15–35 cm long, verrucate or slightly tuberculate with crateriform glands, glaucous, slightly flexuous, articulate, fragile at nodes, very branched; often proliferating in axils. Inflorescence obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches few, 1–3 per stem, 1–5 cm long, sometimes branched in the upper half. Fertile branches 2–10 cm long, slightly curved, directed obliquely upwards to spreading, forming branching angles of 20°–45°, branched. Spikes 20–60 mm long, straight to slightly curved, insert erect to obliquely. Spikelets 8.5–9.5 mm long, composed of 1 (–2) flower, remotely arranged with 2–3 per cm. Outer bract 2.8–3.0 mm long and 1.9–2.2 mm broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, dotted, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.8–3.5 mm long and 1.8–2.2 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 7.3–8.0 mm long and 3.4–4.2 mm broad, oblong-obovate, rounded; bract margin more or less broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 5.4–6.4 mm long and 2.5–3.8 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a very narrowly triangular tip, 1–2 mm long, reaching nearly the upper margin. Calyx 6.4–7.2 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.5–2.0 mm; calyx tube glabrous, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.9 × 1.0 mm, semi-elliptical. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to Cap Tenaro in the Mani Peninsula (South Peloponnese) ( Fig. 93F ).

Habitat: ―Schistose rocky coast.

Etymology: — L. taenari is named after Cap Tenaro, a locality on the southern Peloponnese where the plant grows.

Taxonomic remarks: —The habit of L. taenari is quite similar to that of L. proliferum , but L. taenari differs from the latter by having flat leaves, only a few sterile branches, and mostly 1-flowered spikelets, from L. schinousae by having longer spikelets, inner bracts and calyces.

Specimens examined (Paratypes): — GREECE. Peloponnese: Laconia, Peninsula Mani, Akrotirion Taenaron (Cap Matapan), substr. schist. cristall. calcif., Marmari ad litus, 10 June 1958, K. H. Rechinger 20106 (B); Laconia, Penins. Mani, Akrotirion Taenaron (Cap Matapan), in saxosis schist. cristall. ad litus prope Porto Kalion, 10 June 1958, K. H. Rechinger 20154 (B) .

Figures

FIGURE 67. Limonium taenari Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Peloponnese, Akro Tenaro, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 93. (Map 8) Geographical distribution of Limonium echiodes (A); L. helenae (B); L. quinnii (C); L. lobatum (D); L. monolithicum (E); L. taenari (F); L. spreitzenhoferi (G).