Limonium grabusae Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

61. Limonium grabusae Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 61 )

Type:— GREECE. Crete: Insula Creta: Distr. Kissamos: Insula Grabusa , substr. calc., 25 July 1973, Rechinger 45792 (holotype B!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, glauca, 15–35 cm alta, foliis 20–40 × 6–10 mm, spathulatis ad oblanceolatis, verrucosis ad tuberculatis,1-nerviis, caulibus paucis, verrucosis, ramis sterilibus nonnullibus, spicis 20–80 mm longis, spiculis 7.5–8.2 mm longis, 1–3-floris, ad 1–4 in 2 centimetris dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.1–2.3 × 2.0– 2.2 mm, triangularielliptica, bractea media 2.2–2.6 × 1.3–1.9 mm, bractea superiore 5.9–6.5 × 3.3–4.0 mm, oblongo-obovata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 5.4–6.0 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0– 1.5 mm exserto, tubo breviter piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.7 × 0.8 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 15–35 cm tall, with few erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 4–9 cm long, loosely branched and densely spirally leafy with withered leaves; living leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves fleshy, glaucous, flat, verrucate to tuberculate with crateriform glands, 20–40 mm long and (3–) 5–10 mm broad, spathulate to oblanceolate, apex obtuse to round, sometimes retuse, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems glaucous, 10–30 cm long, slightly flexuous, verrucate, branching begins above the base of the stems. Inflorescence trullate or obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches only 1–3 per stem, 1–5 cm long, straight to slightly curved, unbranched. Fertile branches 3–8 cm long, slightly arched to straight, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 35°– 50°, normally unbranched. Spikes 20–80 mm long, arched, inserted obliquely or spreading. Spikelets 7.5–8.2 mm long, composed of 1–3 flowers, very remotely arranged with 1–4 per 2 cm. Outer bract 2.1–2.3 mm long and 2.0– 2.2 mm broad, triangular-elliptic, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.2–2.6 mm long and 1.3–1.9 mm broad, oblong to obovate-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 5.9–6.5 mm long and 3.3–4.0 mm broad, oblong-obovate, obtuse to rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, slightly tuberculate, 4.3–5.0 mm long and 2.0–3.0 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 1.0– 1.2 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 5.4–6.0 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0– 1.5 mm; calyx tube shortly hairy, with 5 ribs ending near the upper margin of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.7 × 0.8 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to Gramvousa, islet of northwest Crete ( Fig. 88I ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: — L. grabusae is named after Grabusa (= Gramvousa), an islet near Crete.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. grabusae is similar to L. sougiae , but its larger leaves and shorter spikelets, bracts and calyces make it distinct from the latter.

Specimens examined (Paratypes): — GREECE. Crete: Insula Creta, Distr. Kissamos, Insula Grabusa , substr. calc., 25 July 1973, K. H. Rechinger 45782 sub. L. sieberi (B); Crete, Distr. Chania, Agria Gramvousa islet, northen slope, c. 20 m, Fournaraki 5802 (CAT, MAIC) .

Figures

FIGURE 61. Limonium grabusae Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Habit and leaves drawn from “C. Fournaraki 5802, CAT”, spikelet details from “K.H. Rechinger 45792, B”).

FIGURE 88. (Map 3) Geographical distribution of Limonium amopicum (A); L. doerfleri (B); L. ikaricum (C); L. elaphonisicum (D); L. creticum (E); L. damboldtianum (F); L. astypaleanum (G); L. glomeratum (H); L. grabusae (I); L. isidorum (J); L. cythereum (K); L. kirikosicum (L); L. dolihiense (M); L. minoicum (N).