Verbascum misirdalianum Karavel., Çeçen and Ünal, 2015

Çeçen, Ömer, Karavelioğullari, Faik Ahmet & Ünal, Ayvaz, 2015, Verbascum misirdalianum (Scrophulariaceae), a new species from central Anatolia, Turkey, Phytotaxa 217 (1), pp. 96-99 : 96-99

Verbascum misirdalianum Karavel., Çeçen and Ünal sp. nov. ( Figs. 1−2 )

Type:— TURKEY. C 4 Karaman: 40 km north of Karaman, Çakırdağı Mountain, southwest of Yalnızdağ Hill, steppe, 1100−1300 m, 3 May 2013, Ö.Çeçen 700, A. Ünal & H. Mısırdalı (holotype: KNYA! GAZI!, isotypes: HUB!, Yıldırımlı, KNYA! and ANK!).

Differs from V.tossiense by broadly ovate-lanceolate basal leaves; triangular-ovate cauline leaves; inflorescences simple; three posterior filaments whitish yellow above and purple hairy below; two anteriors anthers obliqualy inserted and sometimes decurrent.

Biennial, 50−120 cm high, softly densely greynish and whitish branched eglandular tomentose hairs throughout. Basal leaves broadly ovate-lanceolate, 10−25 × 7−15 cm, undulate lobed but undivided, irregularly crenate, apex acute, attenuate at base; petiole 3−5 cm long. Stem slender, robust, terete, simple. Cauline leaves triangular-ovate, 5−15 × 4−10 cm, undulate lobed, irregularly crenate, apex acute-acuminate. Inflorescences compact in simple racemes, clusters flowers sessile, flowers densely overlapping, in clusters of 2−5 flowers. Bracts ovate-orbicular, crenate, acuminate, 2−3 × 1.5−2.5 mm. Pedicels sessile or 1−2 mm long, bracteoles present, ovate-lanceolate. Calyx 6−8 mm, almost divided to the base, lobes ovate, acute. Corolla 25−35 mm diam, yellow, without pellucide glands tomentose outside, tube 2−3 mm long, lobes 10−15 mm long. Stamens 5, 5−7 mm long, filaments 3−4 mm long, 3 posterior flaments whitish yellow above, purple hairy below; anthers 2–3 mm long, two anteriors obliqualy incerted sometimes decurrent, all flaments hairy up to anthers. Ovary 1−2 × 0.5− 1 mm, ovate. Style filiform, 20−30 mm long. Stigma spathulate, 3−4 mm long. Capsule ovate-globose, 5−6 × 3−4 mm.

Additional specimens examined:— Verbascum tossiense : TURKEY. A3 Eskişehir: Near Sakarya river, M & D Zohary 388 ( ANK!) ; A4 Çankırı: West of Çankırı, 750 m, Huber-Morath 12940 ( ANK!) ; A5 Kastamonu: 7 km North of Tosya , 850 m, Huber-Morath 12929 ( ANK!) ; Tossia , in montibus prope urbem, 13 June 1892, Sintenins 4213 (type: LD photo!) ; A6 Tokat: Tokat, 700 m, Krause 3764 ( ANK!) ; B3 Eskişehir: 10 km North of Eskişehir, 1200 m, M & D. Zohary 415 ( ANK!) ; B4 Ankara: Dikmen Mountain 900−1000m, Bornmueller 1929:14483 ( ANK!) ; B5 Kırşehir: 31 km South of Kırşehir, 1000 m, Sorger 69,64−11 ( ANK!) ; C5 : Fındıkpınarı , 1200 m, H. Demiriz 1951:621 ( ANK!) ; Verbascum misirdalianum : TURKEY. C4 Karaman: 40 km north of Karaman, Çakırdağı Mountain, southwest of Yalnızdağ Hill , steppe, 1100−1300 m, 3 June 2012, Ö. Çeçen 507, A. Ünal & H. Mısırdalı ( KNYA!) .

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting from May− June.

Habitats:—Calcareous stony slopes, rock crevices, 1100−1300 m.

Distribution:— Verbascum misirdalianum is confined to Çakırdağı mountain within Karaman province, in Central Anatolian Region of Turkey. It is endemic to Turkey, and is known only from the type locality ( Fig. 2 ).

Etymology: —This new species is named in honour of the eminent Turkish botanist Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Mısırdalı.

Conservation assessment:—This species was found at a single location and the extent of occurrence was almost 10 km 2. Its’ habitat continues to decline due to agricultural activities and other local uses (criteria B1ab (iii) under CR). The threat category of Verbascum misirdalianum is suggested as CR [B1ab (iii)] ( IUCN 2013).

Taxonomic relationships:— Verbascum misirdalianum belongs to the so called “K group (bracteoles present, clusters of flowers sessile)” in Flora of Turkey ( Huber-Morath 1978, Davis et al. 1988). This group comprises 21 species with the addition of Verbascum misirdalianum . The new species is morphologically similar to V. tossiense from which it is distinguished by broadly ovate-lanceolate basal leaves; triangular-ovate cauline leaves; inflorescences simple; three posterior filaments whitish yellow above and purple hairy below; two anteriors anthers obliqualy inserted and sometimes decurrent ( Table 1).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Verbascum misirdalianum (Ö.Çeçen 700). a. Growth habit. b. Flower detail. c. Basal leaves.

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Verbascum misirdalianum in Turkey. (), Verbascum tossiense ().