Limonium sirinicum Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

85. Limonium sirinicum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 85 )

Type :— GREECE. Cyclades : Sikinos, Alopronia (costa rocciosa), 27 August 1994, Brullo & Scelsi s.n. (holotype MSB-165813!, isotypes CAT!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, griseo-glauca, 15–30 cm alta, foliis 18–45 × 5–8 mm, spathulatis ad oblanceolatis, laevibus, punctatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus paucis, rugosis, ramis sterilibus absentibus vel solo 1–3 per caulem, spicis 10–35 mm longis, spiculis 7.5–8.0 mm longis, 2–7-floris, ad 3–4 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 3.0–3.8 × 2.4–3.0 mm, triangulari-ovata ad triangulari-obovata, bractea media 3.0–3.5 × 2.0– 2.3 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 6.4–6.9 × 4.6–5.0 mm, obovata, apice rotundata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 5.7–6.8 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0– 1.3 mm exserto, tubo dense piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.7 × 1.0 mm, late semi-ellipticis.

LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 179 180 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 181 Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 15–30 cm tall, with few erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 1–8 cm long, branched, densely spirally leafy in upper half. Leaves fleshy, grey-glaucous, flat, smooth, dotted, 18–45 mm long and 5–8 mm broad, spathulate to oblanceolate, apex obtuse to round, mucronate, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems glaucous, 15–30 cm long, straight or slightly flexuous, rugose, branching begins above the lower third of the stems. Inflorescence trullate to obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches absent or only 1–3 per stem, 0.5–2 cm long, straight, unbranched. Fertile branches 1–3 cm long, straight, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 30°–45°, unbranched or only very loosely branched. Spikes 10–35 mm long, straight to arched, inserted obliquely upwards. Spikelets 7.5–8.0 mm long, composed of 2–7 flowers, remotely arranged with 3–4 per cm. Outer bract 3.0– 3.8 mm long and 2.4–3.0 mm broad, triangular-ovate to triangular-obovate, acute to obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 3.0– 3.5 mm long and 2.0– 2.3 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 6.4–6.9 mm long and 4.6–5.0 mm broad, obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, glaucous, 5.0– 5.8 mm long and 3.0– 3.2 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.5–0.8 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 5.7–6.8 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0– 1.3 mm; calyx tube densely long hairy, with 5 ribs ending at the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.7 × 1.0 mm, broadly semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to Sikinos (Cyclades), where it is frequent ( Fig. 94E ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: —The epithet “ sirinicum ” refers to Sirinus, the old name of Sikinos island.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. sirinicum is very similar to L. doerfleri in terms of habit, leaves and inflorescences. It differs from L. doerfleri by having smaller leaves, and longer spikelets, bracts and calyces.

Specimens examined: —See types.

Figures

FIGURE 85. Limonium sirinicum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Sikinos, Alopronia, Brullo & Scelsi s.n, MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 94. (Map 9) Geographical distribution of Limonium pigadiense (A); L. sartorianum (B); L. schinousae (C); L. sieberi (D); L. sirinicum (E); L. sitiacum (F); L. narbonense (G).