Oxytropis ocrensis F.Conti & Bartolucci, 2018

Conti, Fabio, Pennesi, Riccardo, Uzunov, Dimitar, Bracchetti, Luca & Bartolucci, Fabrizio, 2018, A new species of Oxytropis (Fabaceae) from Central Apennines (Italy), Phytotaxa 336 (1), pp. 69-81 : 77-79

Oxytropis ocrensis F.Conti & Bartolucci , sp. nov. ( Figs. 5 & 6 )

Similar to O. xerophila , O. halleri and O. korabensis in the bilocular fruit, the scapose habit and the purplish or blue violet corolla but it differs from all by its longer calyx, larger lateral calyx teeth, long hairs on calyx teeth, smaller keel limb and larger diameter of stem below the inflorescence. Similar to O. xerophila in dense hairness,with long, spreading, straight, white hairs, and short, twisted, white hairs on stems and petioles, while in O. halleri and O. korabensis are adpressed and straight.

Type: — ITALY. Abruzzo, L’Aquila, Monte Ocre (Ocre), 371797N, 4679741E, WGS 84, pendio rupestre, 1990–2030 m, 3 July 2014, F. Conti, B. Petriccione, G. Serafini s.n. (holotype APP No. 55047, isotypes APP Nos. 55046, 55048).

Acaulescent perennial herb, 12–19 cm tall, green to gray. Stipules scarious, lanceolate, 13–18 mm long × (5) 6–9 mm wide, branched-veined, ciliate, with straight, long, white hairs. Leaves imparipinnate, (8.1–)10.8(–13.2) cm long (petioles included), petioles (2.6–)4(–5.1) cm long, rather densely covered with white hairs up to 3 mm long. Leaflets (12–)13.6(–15) paired, linear-oblong, slightly acute, the second pair (10–)14(–19) mm long, (4.5–)5(–6) mm wide, the middle (10–)12.5(–15) mm long, (4–)4.2(–5) mm wide, the subapical (4–)6.2(–7) mm long, (1.5–)2.4(–3) mm wide, densely covered with adpressed long hairs, mainly abaxially and along the veins. Stems clearly longer than leaves, at the base (1.5–)2(–3) mm thick, (1.4–)1.9(–2.3) mm below the inflorescence, densely covered with straight, long, white hairs, short twisted, white hairs, and some short black hairs. Flowers (7–)9.9(–13). Inflorescence (3.5–)4.4(–5.9) cm, densely covered with white and black hairs. Bracts (4–)8.9(–12.3) mm long, (1.3–)1.9(–2.5) mm wide, greenish, abaxially pubescent with white and black hairs, adaxially glabrous or with few hairs. Calyx herbaceous, (11.6–)12.3(–13.1) mm long (including teeth); tube (8.3–)8.8(–9.5) mm; middle teeth lanceolate, (2.8–)3.5(–3.8) mm long, (0.7–)0.9(–1.1) mm wide; lateral middle teeth, (2.6–)3.2(–3.6) mm long, (1.1–)1.2(–1.4) mm wide. Corolla purplish, standard with a whitish and yellow spot in the middle. Standard (17.7–)19.3(–21.3) mm long, limb (9.9–)11(–13) mm long, (6.8–)7.8(–9.2) mm wide, claw (7.5–)8.3(–9.5) mm long × (1.7–)2.3(–3) mm wide, broadly ovate, emarginate at the apex. Wings shorter than the standard, (14.6–)15.4(–16.4) mm long, limb (6.6–)7.3(–8.2) mm long × (3.7)4.2(–5) mm wide, claw (7.3–)8(–8.6) mm long × (0.6–)0.8(–1) mm wide. Keel shorter than wings, (12.4–)13.1(–14.3) mm long, limb (4.9–)5.4(–5.9) mm long × (4.3–)5.2(–6.1) mm wide, claw (6.8)7.7(–8.5) mm long × (2.2–)2.7(–3.3) mm wide. Legumes (18–)20(–22) mm long covered with white and black hairs 0.3–0.4 mm long, bilocular with ventral and dorsal septa equal. Seeds 1–1.5 mm.

Distribution: — Oxytropis ocrensis is a rare and localized species, endemic to Mt. Ocre (Abruzzo, Central

Apennines).

Habitat: —Rocky slopes and screes around 2000 m a.s.l. with northern exposure.

Phenology: —Flowering end of June to July, fruiting July to August.

Etimology: —The specific epithet is derived from “Mt. Ocre”, type locality of the species.

Conservation status: —According to IUCN (2017) criteria we propose to include O. ocrensis in the following category: Vulnerable (VU D1+2).

Paratype: — Italy. Abruzzo: L’Aquila, Monte Ocre (Ocre), 371797N, 4679741E, WGS 84, pendio rupestre, 1990– 2030 m, 3 July 2013, B. Petriccione s.n. (APP No. 55065).

Additional specimens examined: — O. xerophila : Italy, Val d’Aosta: Cogne , 1700 m, June 1950 S. Viola s.n. ( MSNM No. 5500!) ; Aosta , s.d., E. Banfi s.n. ( MSNM No. 9323!) ; Bionaz, Valpelline, a N del Lago di Place Moulin , pendii rupestri, 2000 m, 13 July 2014, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci & M. Bovio s.n. (APP Nos. 57203!, 57204!) ; Val di Rhȇmes, lungo la mulattiera per il Rif. Benevolo, Montagna di Fos , rupi, 1900–2000 m, 13 July 2014, F. Conti & F. Bartolucci s.n. ( APP No. 57209!) ; Cogne, Vallone del Grauson, da loc. Cretettaz a Pilaz , 1900-2200 m, 14 July 2014, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci & M. Bovio s.n. (APP Nos. 57205!, 57206!, 57207!, 57208!) ; Trentino-Alto Adige: Malles Venosta , 1 September 1997, P. Minghetti s.n. ( APP No. 36951!) ; Val Venosta, Montechiaro, sotto Porzleithof , 1 September 1997, P. Minghetti s.n. ( APP No. 36950!). O. halleri : Italy, Lombardia: Cornone di Blumone (Brescia), 14 July 1985, E. Banfi s.n. ( MSNM No. 22398!) ; Alpi Retiche, Val Malenco, Campo Franscia , 2000 m, August 1947, Gianoncalli s.n. ( MSNM No. 5508!) ; Val Fredda di Bazena ( Brescia , S-Adam), 20 July 1987, E. Banfi s.n. (MSNM Nos. 22644!, 22645!) ; Brescia, Breno, sentiero Bazena e Malga di Valle Fredda , pascolo su calcare, 1900 m ca., esp. SW, 16 June 2004, G. Galasso s.n. ( MSNM No. 39243!) ; Trentino-Alto Adige: Val d’Arno, 24 June 1997, P. Minghetti s.n. (APP Nos. 36948!, 36949!). O. korabensis : Macedonia, Bistra , Medenica stene, rudine i kamenjari, krečnjak, 1800–2163 mnv, 12 July 2010, M. Niketić & G. Tomović s.n. ( BEOU No. 30838!) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. A. Oxytropis ocrensis. B. Inflorescence and leaf of O. ocrensis. C. O. ocrensis in the locus classicus.