Centaurea tomorosii Micevski (1985: 84

Wagenitz, Gerhard, Bergmeier, Erwin, Gregor, Thomas, Meierott, Lenz, Shuka, Lulezim & Tan, Kit, 2018, A synopsis of the Centaurea soskae and triniifolia group (Centaurea sect. Acrolophus) in the Prespa area and Northern Pindos, Phytotaxa 348 (2), pp. 77-89 : 82-83

2. Centaurea tomorosii Micevski (1985: 84 , figs. 3, 4 & 6) ( Figs. 1‒2 & 9 ).

Type:—[FYR MACEDONIA] Mt Galičica, Tomoros, in saxosis calcareis, 1450 m, 14 July 1980, K. Micevski (holotype SKO).

Herbaceous perennial woody at base. Leaves white tomentose on lower surface, segments broad. Capitula cylindricalovoid; florets yellow to very pale yellow, almost white. Phyllary appendages blackish-brown, triangular, with erect to subpatent terminal spinule shorter than lateral cilia. Achenes puberulent, with dimorphic pappus half as long as, or almost equalling, body of achene.

Endemic to the southwestern part of FYR Macedonia, on calcareous rock below Tomoros peak, Mt Galičica, within the National Park near to Lake Megali Prespa. Flowering and fruiting in July.

Specimen cited

FYR MACEDONIA. Mt Galičica, 7 July 2012, Janaćković ( BEOU 38474, photos!).

The phyllary appendages with the terminal spinule much shorter than the lateral cilia (see Fig. 1 ), and the dimorphic achenes ( Fig. 2 ) clearly distinguish this species from C. soskae .

Plants in calcareous dry grassland on Mt Devas between the Prespa lakes, Greece, resemble C. tomorosii in their short pappus length but have pinkish-purple florets as in C. triniifolia subsp. campylacme and C. galicicae (quod vide). The phyllary appendages are narrowly triangular, the terminal brownish spinule is shorter than or equalling and overtopping the lateral whitish cilia. Their status remains to be clarified: Mt Devas, summit area, calcareous dry stony grassland, 1370 m, 40°47’54”N, 21°02’22”E, 10 June & 19 July 2017, Bergmeier 17-294, 17-637 (private herbarium Bergmeier). Associated species in the Devas locality include Achillea coarctata , Dasypyrum villosum , Erodium guicciardii , Galium oreophilum , Lomelosia brachiata , Onobrychis alba , Potentilla detommasii and Thymus boissieri .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Capitula of Centaurea taxa: a, C. soskae subsp. soskae; b, C. s. subsp. aetiensis; c, C. s. subsp. albida; d, C. tomorosii; e, C. galicicae; f, C. soskae subsp. albida × C. triniifolia subsp. campylacme; g, C. triniifolia subsp. campylacme; h, C. t. subsp. campylacme (white form); i, C. shumkana.

FIGURE 2. Achenes of Centaurea taxa: a, C. soskae subsp. soskae; b, C. s. subsp. aetiensis; c, C. s. subsp. albida; d, C. tomorosii; e, C. galicicae; f, C. soskae subsp. albida × C. triniifolia subsp. campylacme; g, C. triniifolia subsp. campylacme; h, C. grisebachii; i, C. shumkana.

FIGURE 9. Distribution map: a, Centaurea soskae ● C. tomorosii ■; b, C. galicicae ● C. triniifolia subsp. campylacme ■ C. shumkana ♦.