Limonium monolithicum Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

24. Limonium monolithicum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 24 )

Type:— GREECE. Dodecanese: Rodi , Akr. Phurni, 1 September 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (holotype MSB-164028!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, glauca, 20–40 cm alta, foliis 20–40 × 3–6 mm, spathulatis, apice obtusis, verrucosis, canaliculatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus pluribus, verrucosis, ramis sterilibus absentibus vel nonnullibus, spicis 10–40 mm longis,

LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 69 spiculis 8.5–10.0 mm longis, 2–6-floris, remotissime ad 1–4 in 2 centimetris dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.8–3.1 × 2.0– 2.2 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice obtusa, bractea media 2.8–3.3 × 1.9–2.2 mm, oblonga, bractea superiore 7.7–8.5 × 3.5–4.0 mm, oblongo-obovata, margine anguste membranaceo, calyce 7.2–7.8 mm longo, ex bractea superiore ca. 1 mm exserto, tubo sparsim piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.8 × 1.0 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 20–40 cm tall, with several erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 20–60 mm long, branched, more or less densely spirally leafy. Leaves coriaceous, rigid, verrucate or with some crateriform glands, glaucous, 20–40 mm long and 3–6 mm broad, spathulate, apex obtuse to rounded, canaliculated in cross-section, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 15–35 cm long, verrucate, glaucous, straight to slightly flexuous, branching begins mostly near the base. Inflorescence trullate in outline. Sterile branches absent or few, 1–3 per stem, 1–3 cm long, unbranched. Fertile branches 2–11 cm long, straight to arched, obliquely directed upwards, forming branching angles of 35°–50°, undivided or in the upper half loosely branched. Spikes 10–40 mm long, arched, inserted erect to obliquely upwards. Spikelets 8.5–10.0 mm long, composed of 2–6 flowers, very remotely arranged with 1–4 per 2 cm. Outer bract 2.8–3.1 mm long and 2.0– 2.2 mm broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.8–3.3 mm long and 1.9–2.2 mm broad, oblong, rounded. Inner bract 7.7–8.5 mm long and 3.5–4.0 mm broad, oblong-obovate, rounded to obtuse; bract margin narrowly membranous; central part fleshy, hard, 6.3–7.6 mm long and 2.6–3.2 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 0.7–1.1 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 7.2–7.8 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by c.1,0 mm; calyx tube sparsely shortly hairy, with 5 ribs ending in the middle of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.8 × 1.0 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to Rhodes ( Fig. 93E ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: —The species is named after Monolithos, a locality in the southwest of Rhodos.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. monolithicum is quite similar to L. amopicum , from which it is easily distinguished by its absent or few sterile branches, spathulate, verrucate leaves, and longer calyces. L. monolithicum is also morphologically close to L. sitiacum , but differs from the latter by having narrower verrucate leaves, shorter bracts and longer calyces.

Specimens examined (Paratypes): — GREECE. Dodecanese: Rodi, Agios Georgios (Monolithos), 23 August 1989, Brullo & Spampinato s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Rodi, Akr. Armenistis (Monolithos), 25 August 1989, Brullo & Spampinato s.n. (CAT); Ostaegaeische Inseln: Rhodos, E-Küste, Lindos, zwischen Stadt und “Kleoboulos Grab” am Kap Aemilianos, oberhalb der Küstenfelsen in lückiger Phrygana, 2 April 1996, Kalheber 96–085 (Herb. Kalheber); Rhodos: SW-Teil der Insel, Kap Fourni, Strandfelsen, 8 April 1996, Kalheber 96–308 (Herb. Kalheber); Rodi, sotto il monastero di Amartos (W-Küste), 1 September 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Rodi, Ag. Giorgios, presso Monolithos, 1 September 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (CAT) .

Figures

FIGURE 24. Limonium monolithicum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Rodi, Akr. Phurni, Brullo & Guarino 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).