Limonium subnudum Bogdanović & Brullo, 2015

Bogdanović, Sandro & Brullo, Salvatore, 2015, Taxonomic revision of the Limonium cancellatum group (Plumbaginaceae) in Croatia, Phytotaxa 215 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

21. Limonium subnudum Bogdanović & Brullo , sp. nov.

Type: — CROATIA. Southern Dalmatia: Isola di Lastovo , uvala Zaklopatica, Dalmazia, 12 August 2005, Bogdanović s.n. (holotype CAT!; isotypes CAT!, ZAGR!) ( Figs. 22 , 51 ) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, dense foliosa secus partem superiorem caudicularum, foliis rugosis, glabris, spathulatis, retusis, revolutis margine, 1–3-nervis, scapis numerosis, prostratis ad adscendentibus, rugosis, sparsim puberulis, ramis sterilibus numerosis, inflorescentia reticulata, ramosa, spicis rectis ad curvatis, bractea inferiore hemielliptica, rotundata, glabra , bractea superiore glabra , oblongo-ovata, rotundata, calice tubo secundo sparsim piloso, lobis triangularibus, acutis.

Description: —Plant perennial, 15–35 cm tall, with robust tap-root. Caudices branched, 2–10 cm long, densely covered by leaves in the upper part. Leaves rigid, rugose, glabrous, green, 1.5–5 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, spathulate, revolute at the margin, 1–3-nerved, tapering into a long petiole, retuse at the apex. Stems numerous, prostrate to ascending, rugose, sparsely puberulous, with numerous sterile branches, flexuous, fragile at nodes, very branched, diverging at the angle of 50–180°, internodes 4–15 mm long, right to curved. Inflorescence reticulate, branched; spikes 0.7–4 cm long, straight to curved. Spikelets 5.5–6 mm long, 2–3-flowered, 4–5 per cm; outer bract 1–1.5 mm long, 1.2–1.5 mm wide, ovate, acute, narrowly membranous, with central part fleshy, sparsely hairy, acuminate; middle bract 1.2–1.6 mm long, 1–1.1 mm wide, hemielliptical, rounded, membranous, glabrous; inner bract glabrous, 3.3–3.5 mm long, 2.2–2.5 mm wide, oblong-ovate, rounded, with margin membranous, glabrous, 0.3–0.4 mm wide, with central part fleshy, 1.6–1.8 mm wide, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.6–0.8 mm long, no reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4.5–5 mm long, exserted 2–2.2 mm from the inner bract, tube sparsely hairy on one side, ribs glabrous, reaching almost the middle part of the lobe; calyx lobes, triangular, acute, 1–1.2 × 0.6–0.7 mm. Corolla lilac.

Etymology: —The epithet is referred to latin “subnudus” namely covered by few hairs.

Distribution and ecology: —This species is circumscribet to north-western part of the Lastovo island in southern Dalmatia ( Fig. 30D ). It grows on the calcareous step slopes near the sea in contact with Quercus ilex maquis. Here, it is a member of halophilous community.

Additional specimens examined (Paratypes): — CROATIA. Southern Dalmatia: Scoglien westl. v. Lagosta, Veli Kutevjar (Rutevinjak), 27 July 1914, Ginzberger s.n. (W!); Scoglien westl. v. Lagosta, Pod Mrcaru (Pod Marchiara), 29 July 1914, Ginzberger s.n. ( WU!); Southern Dalmatia, on the little island „Veli Rutenjak“ near the island Lagosta (Nr. 29 on the map), 27 July 1914, Ginzberger s.n. (K!) .

Figures

FIGURE 22. Limonium subnudum. A. Inflorescence branches. B. Spikelets. C. Outer bracts. D. Middle bracts. E. Inner bract (lateral view). F. Inner bracts (dorsal view). G. Calyces. H. Calyx lobes. I. Leaves. J. Leaf adaxial face. K. Leaf abaxial face (Illustration by Salvatore Brullo based on Bogdanović s.n.. type CAT).

FIGURE 30. Geographical distribution of Limonium trinajsticii (A). L. leprosorum (B). L. tabularae (C). L. subnudum (D). L. ginzbergeri (E) and L. dictyophorum (F).

FIGURE 51. Habit of Limonium subnudum from holotype. Bogdanović s.n. (CAT).