Limonium pagasaeum Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

8. Limonium pagasaeum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 8 )

Type:— GREECE. Thessaly: Akro Pavogias (rupi scistose presso Volos), 13 October 2007, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (holotype MSB-165822!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, viridis, 30–75 cm alta, foliis 10–25 × 2–6 cm, oblongo-ellipticis ad oblanceolatis, mucronatis, pinnatis, caulibus pluribus, ramis sterilibus absentibus vel nonnullis, spicis 10–40 mm longis, spiculis 6.0– 7.5 mm longis, 2–3-floris, ad 2–6 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.0–2.4 × 1.9–2.2 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice acuta, bractea media 2.8–3.3 × 1.7–2.2 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 4.9–5.8 2.8–3.2 mm, elliptica ad oblongo-obovata, apice emarginata, margine late membranaceo, calyce obconico, 5–6 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.2–2.2 mm exserto, tubo dense piloso, lobis calycis plicatissimis, albis ad pallide lilacinis, ca. 0.8 × 1.0 mm, triangularibus, alterne cum lobis parvibus.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 30–75 cm tall, with several erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 3.0–8.0 cm long, branched, leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves fleshy, dark green, normally flat, 10–25 cm long and 2–6 cm broad, oblong-elliptical to oblanceolate, apex obtuse to rounded, mucronate, with one central nerve and many clearly visible pinnately branching lateral nerves, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 25–70 cm long, nearly straight to slightly flexuous, branching begins above the lower third of the stems. Inflorescence corymbose or obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches absent or very few, 2–15 cm long. Fertile branches 5–60 cm long, straight to curved, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 45°– 70°, longer branches divided in the upper half. Spikes dense, 10–40 mm long, straight to curved, erect to directed obliquely upwards. Spikelets 6.0– 7.5 mm long, composed of 2–3 flowers, remotely to densely arranged with 2–6 per cm. Outer bract 2.0– 2.4 mm long and 1.9–2.2 mm broad, triangular-ovate, acute; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.8–3.3 mm long and 1.7–2.1 mm broad, oblong-elliptical to triangular-ovate, obtuse or asymmetrically emarginate. Inner bract 4.9–5.8 mm long and 2.8–3.2 mm broad, elliptic to oblong-obovate, on the upper end emarginate; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, green, 2.8–3.8 mm long and 1.2–1.9 mm broad, oblong, on the upper end premorse, emarginate. Calyx obconical, 5.0–6.0 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by

34 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN

1.2–2.2 mm; calyx tube more or less densely longly hairy; calyx lobes ca. 0.8 × 1.0 mm, triangular, with small intermediate lobes; calyx seam distinctly plicate, white to pinkish. Corolla violet.

LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

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Chromosome number: —2n = 72 ( Georgakopoulou & al. 2006 sub L. narbonense , counted from two population from the area between Nea Anchialos and Volos, could probably also refer to L. pagasaeum , but this must be confirmed with cytological study od the material of this new taxon..

Distribution: —Restricted to Thessaly, between Volos and Almiros ( Fig. 91G ).

Habitat: —Rocky, schistose coast and on salt marshes.

Etymology: —The epithet “ pagasaeum ” refers to Sinus Pagasaeus, the old name for the Pagasitikos Gulf.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. pagasaeum has a similar habit to both L. brevipetiolatum and L. narbonense , but it differs by having an octoploid chromosome number, more remotely arranged spikelets, and longer bracts and calyces.

Specimens examined (Paratype): — GREECE. Thessaly: Nea Aghialos (Volos), 13 October 2007, Brullo & Giusso s.n., sheet 2 (CAT, Herb. Erben), Pref. Magnisia, Chrisi Akti Panagias, s.d.. Georgakopoulou & Manousou GM 214 (photo); Pref. Magnisia, Alykes bay , s.d., Georgakopoulou & Manousou GM 219 (photo) .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Limonium pagasaeum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes. (Drawn from “Akro Pavogias, Brullo & Giusso s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 91. (Map 6) Geographical distribution of Limonium brevipetiolatum (A); L. bellidifolium (B); L. compactum (C); L. hirsuticalyx (D); L. microcycladicum (E); L. oligotrichum (F); L. pagasaeum (G).