Taraxacum erzincanense Doll (1975: 199)

Štěpánek, Jan & Kirschner, Jan, 2022, A hotspot of endemism: Oreophytic Taraxacum species (Compositae, Crepidinae) in the mountains of Bulgaria, Phytotaxa 569 (1), pp. 1-139 : 132-134

4. Taraxacum erzincanense Doll (1975: 199)

Type:— TURKEY. Ostanatolien, Prov. Erzincan, Erzincan, Nordhang des Gebirges südl. Karakol , 1500 m, 22 May 1971, K. Walther 8793 ( HBG 526061 , no. det. 34808, holotype) .

= Taraxacum borovezum Doll (1978: 635)

Type:— BULGARIA. Flora von Bulgarien, Rila-Gebirge, Borovez, Wegrand, 11 Jul 1976, R. Doll ( JE, no. det. 19056, holotype) .

Illustrations:— Doll (1978: Fig 1, Plate LXXIII); Doll (1975: Fig. 1a).

Etymology:—Derived from the name of an important town and province in northern Turkey – Erzincan.

Exsiccates:— Taraxaca Exs., no. 1246–1253.

Plants medium-sized or relatively small, usually 9–15 cm tall. Plant base ± without tunic, with ± sparse whitish or brownish hairs among petiole bases. Petioles deep pink-purple to reddish purple, ± arachnoid, narrow, unwinged or narrowly winged, usually 1.5–3.5 cm long. Leaf rosettes relatively well developed; leaves comparatively stiff, subcoriaceous, with blade slightly folded along the mid-vein, erect to erect-patent, slightly greyish light green, not spotted, sparsely arachnoid, more densely so on mid-vein of middle leaves; blade narrowly elliptical to oblanceolate in outline, usually 6–18 × 2–4 cm, deeply and regularly pinnatisect, outer, early leaves with segments distally less dentate; terminal segment triangular to narrowly triangular or ± tripartite, usually 1–2.5 × 1.5–3 cm, acute to obtusely acute, with an elongated, narrowly lingulate terminal lobule in inner leaves, distal margin usually ± straight and entire in outer leaves, but in the other leaves concave, entire or with 1–2 teeth, basal lobules ± recurved, sometimes subpatent or conspicuously recurved, often elongated, with a narrow, lingulate distal part, proximal margin ± straight or subsigmoid, entire; lateral segments in (3) 4–5 (6) pairs, usually opposite, most often subrecurved or subpatent, usually 1–2 cm long, 0.6–1.5 cm wide at base, narrowly triangular in outer leaves, otherwise narrowly deltoid-triangular in outline, with a broad basal part, abruptly or ± gradually narrowing in a narrow, lingulate distal part, sometimes ± widened at the apex, distal margin sigmoid, entire, or distinctly dentate on the broad basal part, teeth unequal, relatively long, proximal margin almost straight or ± undulated, usually entire; interlobes most often distinct and long, narrow, slightly widening towards the next proximal segment pair, usually 5–15 × 2–4 mm, usually with several unequal teeth or lobules, surface inconspicuously suffused brownish-purplish, bordered darker brown-purple; mid-vein proximally purplish, distally pale. Scapes purplish proximally, otherwise pale greenish, ± densely floccose-arachnoid, equalling or ± overtopping leaves. Capitulum ± dirty yellow, slightly convex, medium-sized, ca. 2.5–3.5 cm wide. Involucre 7–8 mm wide and rounded at base. Outer phyllaries 15–20, not imbricate, irregularly erect-patent to arcuate recurved, lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, usually 7–8 × 2–3.3 mm, adaxially pale greyish green, often suffused purplish, abaxial surface ± evenly blackish green, sometimes with a darker middle line and bordered darker, with a ± abrupt transition in a pale greyish to whitish border 0.05–0.25 mm wide, margin usually ± ciliate, mainly distally, sometimes ± glabrous, distal part often suffused brownish-purplish, apex paler, subobtuse, almost flat or with a callosity; inner phyllaries ca. 12 mm long, of ± equal width, olivaceous-green, with apex suffused brown-purple. Outer ligules flat to subcanaliculate, striped dark olivaceous-blackish outside, with apical teeth dark grey to purplish grey, inner ligules canaliculkate, with purple apical teeth. Stigmas long, dark, greyish yellow-green with black pubescence outside. Pollen abundant, pollen grains irregular in size. Achenes medium deep olivaceous greyish light brown, with a distinct sculpture, ± distinct lateral ridges, (3.1–) 3.9–4.8 (–5.0) × 0.9–1.2 mm, body densely spinulose and squamulose in upper half, with spinules erect-patent, distal spinules longer (to 0.3 mm), the other ± short, straight to slightly subrecurved, body otherwise minutely spinulose to tuberculate, with a subgradual transition into a thin, ± cylindrical (basally subconical) cone (0.5–) 1.0– 1.3 mm, often sparsely spinulose at base; beak 7–9 mm, pappus very light pinkish-brownish, 6.5–7.5 mm. – Agamosperm. – Fig. 80 .

Diagnostic features:—The subcoriaceous leaves with a complicated lobation pattern, relatively numerous, narrow, irregularly erect-patent to arcuate recurved outer phyllaries, light pinkish-brownish pappus and a densely spinulose achene body, subgradually narrowing into a thin, relatively long, cylindrical cone represent a unique character combination.

Note:—Both for T. erzincanense and for T. borovezum, Doll (1975, 1978 , respectively) reported a triploid chromosome number (2n=24). However, as given in the introductory part to this study, the chromosome counts published by Doll (opera varia) are rather doubtful and require confirmation.

Sectional position:—We refrain from placing T. erzincanense in any section known from the Balkan Peninsula. In its protologue, T. erzincanense is understood as a member of T. sect. Erythrocarpa, which is almost surely wrong. Its synonym, T. borovezum was listed among species of T. sect. Alpestria, a similarly doubtful solution. We might only hypothesize that T. erzincanense is a very marginal member of a group close to T. desertorum Schischkin in Grossgeim (1934: 251), or perhaps a relative of T. sect. Borysthenica Kirschner & Štěpánek (2004: 267).

Distribution and habitat:— Taraxacum erzincanense is a broadly Pontic species distributed from northern Anatolia, Turkey, and Crimea, Ukraine, to Bulgaria. As regards its conservation status, it most probably should be classified as LC ( Anonymous 2012). It grows on wet meadows, pastures and along tracks in montane belt, usually between 1100 and 1900 m, sometimes, as for instance in Crimea, it descends to ca. 260 m a.s.l.

Specimens examined:— BULGARIA. Stara Planina Mts., township of Trojan , the Trojanska Planina , southern slopes below the pass of Trojanski Prohod , pastures along a brook, 1450–1550 m, 42° 46–47’ N, 24° 35–36’ E, 21 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, R. Bělohlávková, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as JŠ 7569 ( PRA, no. det. 26283) ; Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 7570 ( PRA, no. det. 26284) ; Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 7571 ( PRA, no. det. 26285) ; Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 6771 ( PRA, no. det. 27482). – Stara Planina Mts. , township of Trojan , the Trojanska Planina , a ridge between the pass of Karčov and Mt. Ušite , ca. 3–4 km W. of “ Kozja Stena ” Chalet , grasslands around limestone rocks, ca. 1600 m, 42° 47–48’ N, 24° 29–30’ E, 21 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, R. Bělohlávková, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as JŠ 7576 ( PRA, no. det. 26282). – Stara Planina Mts. , township of Trojan , the Trojanska Planina , 0.5–1 km E. of Mt. Kozja stena (1670 m), pastures with limestone rocks, 1550-1600 m, ca. 42° 47’ N, 24° 33–34’ E, 21 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, R. Bělohlávková, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as JŠ 7006 ( PRA, no. det. 26278). – Stara Planina, township of Kazanlak , the Šipčenska Planina Mts. , along the road in the Šipčenski Prohod [pass], meadows and semiruderal sites, 1150-1200 m, 42° 45–46’ N, ca. 25° 19’ E, 22 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, R. Bělohlávková, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as JŠ 7023 ( PRA, no. det. 26277) ; Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 7024 ( PRA, no. det. 26276). – S. Bulgaria, the Rodopi Mts., township of Čepelare , Mursalica , village of Široka Laka , between Gela and Lednicata, ca. 1500 m, ca. 41° 39’ N, ca. 24° 33’ E, 23 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, R. Bělohlávková, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as JŠ 6882 ( PRA, no. det. 26279) ; Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 6818 ( PRA, no. det. 26281). – S. Bulgaria, the Rodopi Mts. , township of Čepelare , Černatica , village of Chvojna , around Mt. Goljam Persenk , Skalni Mostove , ca. 1700 m, ca. 41° 49’ N, ca. 24° 34’ E, 24 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, R. Bělohlávková, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as JŠ 6912 ( PRA, no. det. 26280). – S. Bulgaria, the Rodopi Mts. , township of Čepelare , Černatica , village of Chvojna , around Mt. Goljam Persenk , 1.5–2 km above Skalni Mostove, 1800–1900 m, ca. 41° 49’ N, 24° 33–34’ E, 24 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, R. Bělohlávková, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as JŠ 6794 ( PRA, no. det. 36022). – S. Bulgaria, the Rodopi Mts. , township of Čepelare , Černatica , village of Orechovo , between Skalni Mostove and Slančevi polani, ca. 1700 m, 41° 49–50’ N, ca. 24° 36’ E, 24 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, R. Bělohlávková, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as JŠ 6797 ( PRA, no. det. 27483). – The Rodopi Mts., the massif of Dobrostan , pastures in a valley, ca. 2 km W. of Dobrostan village, ca. 1350 m, 10 May 1989, B. Slavík, cultivated as S 2228-2/2 ( PRA, no. det. 26274) .

UKRAINE. Southern Crimea, Sevastopol, Baidarica Valley, wet sites near the village of Peredovoe , 25 May 1989, J. Štěpánek & J. Kirschner, cultivated as JŠ 4980 ( PRA, no. det. 28553); Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 3514/5–1/1 ( PRA, no. det. 28544). – Southern Crimea, town of Jalta, along a path in a pine woods above Jalta, near Gruševaja poljana, 24 May 1989, J. Štěpánek & J. Kirschner, cultivated as JŠ 4907 ( PRA, no. det. 28547); Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 4900 ( PRA, no. det. 28549); Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 3520/2–2/1 ( PRA, no. det. 28551) .

TURKEY. Central Anatolia, near the village of Gerede, southern foot of Mt. Akyama , ca. 1200 m, 40° 50’ N, 32° 11’ E, May 1988, B. Křísa , cultivated as JŠ 2877/1 ( PRA, no. det. 31344); Ibidem , cultivated as JŠ 4214 ( PRA, no. det. 31346); Ibidem , cultivated as JŠ 4213 ( PRA, no. det. 31342); Ibidem , cultivated as JŠ 2877/1 + 2 ( PRA, no. det. 31340); Ibidem , cultivated as JŠ 2879 ( PRA, no. det. 31339); Ibidem , cultivated as JŠ 2879/2 ( PRA, no. det. 31337); Ibidem , cultivated as JŠ 2877/2 ( PRA, no. det. 31335). – Bolu Province, Abant Silsilesi Mts. , Abant Gölü lake SW of Bolu town, ca. 1100 m, wet meadows at southern shore, May 1997, J. Sádlo , cultivated as JK 4759 ( PRA, no. det. 31333). – Bolu Province, Abant Silsilesi Mts. , Abant Gölü lake SW of Bolu town, ca. 1100 m, parking places, near the shore, May 1997, J. Sádlo, cultivated as JK 4757 ( PRA, no. det. 31331) .

Figures

FIGURE 80. Taraxacum erzincanense. The holotype, and a detail of the bottom right plant of the holotype sheet (HBG, no. det. 34808).