Scilla vardaria Yıldırım and Gemici, 2013

YILDIRIM, Hasan, GEMİCİ, Yusuf & WILKIN, Paul, 2013, Scilla vardaria (Asparagaceae subfamily Scilloideae): a threatened new species of Scilla L. from Northeast Turkey with a floral corona, Phytotaxa 91 (2), pp. 50-60 : 51-57

Scilla vardaria Yıldırım and Gemici sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–4 )

Planta bulbosa, perennis, glabra. Bulbi tunica exteriore membranacea, fusca pallide purpurea; squama interiore succulenta, purpurea. Folia plerumque 2, canaliculata, apices cucullata. Racemus laxus. Bracteae minutae, membranaceae, interdum absentes. Pedicelli erecti usque suberecti interdum curvi. Perigonium aeque caeruleum; segmenta late campanulata usque stellata, subaequalia, patentia, connata 1/4–1/5 basi; tubum subcampanulatum usque globosum; faucem habens coronam conoideam. Stamina apice coronae inserta; filamenta fere absentia; antherae subsessiles, e corona leviter exertae, dorsifixae, introrsae, flavae. Ovarium subglobosum vel obovoideum, 3-loculatum, ovulis paucis omnibus loculatis; stylus strictus; stigma parvum, truncatum. Capsula pyriformis, 3- lobata. Semina flava, pauca omnibus loculata; testa reticulata, ovoidea usque ellipsoidea; elaiosoma flava, cucullata, adhaerens ad testam, leviter tuberculata.

Type:― TURKEY. Province A8 Rize: Çamlıhemşin, Kaçkar mountain , 1,520 m., openings in Picea orientalis forests, 28 April 2010, H. Yıldırım 1675 (holotype EGE!, isotypes K!, EGE!, HUB! and Herb. Yıldırımlı!) .

Bulbs 21 – 30 × 10 – 18 mm, ovoid to subglobose; outer tunic membranaceous, very thin textured, pale brown, sometimes pink-hued; inner scales fleshy, pink-hued. Leaves usually 2, rarely 3, 11 – 19 × 0.8 – 1.7 cm, dark green to yellow-green, linear, canaliculate, cucullate at apex. Stem solitary, 4 – 9 cm long, erect, stout. Inflorescence a simple, lax (1) 2 – 9 flowered raceme, axis erect, brown to light green, sometimes tinged bronze, 3 – 7 cm long,. Bracts 1 – 2(5) mm long, lanceolate to ovate, sometimes linear, membranaceous, white to purple-hued, sometimes absent. Pedicels 1 – 6 cm long, erect to suberect, sometimes curved downwards, slender. Perigon uniformly pale violet-blue, broadly campanulate to stellate with lobes 10 – 15 × 4 – 5 mm, subequal, oblong-lanceolate, united in lower 1/4 – 1/5; tube (below perianth insertion point) 1.5 – 3 × 2 – 3 mm, subcampanulate to infundibular, originating from both floral corona and perianth, white at base. Floral corona (above perianth insertion point) 2.5 – 3.5 × 3 – 3.5 mm, conical, pale blue to white, sometimes pale blue at apex only, apex margin very minutely irregularly toothed or entire, formed by the fusion of the filaments. Anthers inserted at the floral corona apex; light to pale yellowish, 2 – 4 × 1 – 1.5 mm, dorsifixed, introrse; filaments reduced. Ovary 2 – 3 × 2 – 3 mm, dark blue, subglobose or obovoid, 3-1ocular, ovules 4 – 5 per locule; style 1 – 1.5 mm long; stigma small, truncate. Capsule 4 – 6 × 6 – 8 mm, pyriform, 3-lobed, pale greenish. Seeds 1.5 – 2 mm broad, 4 – 12 in each capsule, ovoid to ellipsoid, with an elaiosome; testa pale yellow, reticulate; elaiosome pale cream yellow, cucullate, adherent to testa, slightly tuberculate.

Etymology: ―This species is named after Prof. Dr. Yusuf Vardar (1921 – 2009), who was an expert in plant physiology and the founder of the Dean of Ege University Science Faculty (1961–1969) and the Botany department. He also was the Rector of Ege University from 1971 to 1974.

Distribution: ― S. vardaria is endemic to the Kaçkar Mountain range in the province of Rize in northeastern Anatolia ( Fig. 6 ). This area belongs to the Euro-Siberian floristic region.

Ecology: ― S. vardaria occurs on mountain steppes and meadows in the subalpine zone, as well as in the clearings of Picea orientalis dominated forests or Picea orientalis and Fagus orientalis mixed forests, at altitudes ranging from 1200 to 1980 m a.s.l. Flowering and subsequently fruiting plants can be observed from April to June. It grows on soils rich in humus resulting from the accumulation of dead plants on granite soils. Soil properties are indicated in Table 2, the data of which are presented through the system of Altınbaş (2000) and Lindsay & Norvell (1978).

Conservation status: ― S. vardaria is hitherto known only from an area of less than 10 km 2 at the type locality. Following the IUCN criteria ( IUCN 2001), the plant is categorized as ‘Critically Endangered’ ( CR): B2 ab(ii). The area where it occurs is well known for its touristic activities, and therefore unregulated development could represent the primary potential threat .

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–I. Scilla vardaria (from holotype). A. Habit; B–C. Frontal view of flower with floral corona structure. D. Dorsal view of flower with perigon tube. E. Floral corona structures F. Front view of flower with floral corona and pistil. G–H. Fruits. I–K. seeds with elaiosomes.

FIGURE 2. Scilla vardaria (from type locality). A. Habit. B. Frontal view of flower. C. Dorsal view of flowers.

FIGURE 3. Scilla vardaria: A–K. Details of flowers.

FIGURE 4. A–F. Scilla vardaria (A. Habit. B. Bulb. C–D. Seeds. E. Seed surface. F. Mature fruits with seeds). G. Fruits of. 1. Scilla luciliae (syn: Chionodoxa luciliae). 2. Scilla vardaria. 3. Scilla bifolia. H–M. SEM photographs of seeds and pollen grains of Scilla vardaria (H–J. Seed and seed surface. K–M. Pollen grains).

FIGURE 6. Distribution of 1. Scilla vardaria; 2. Scilla luciliae (syn: Chionodoxa luciliae), Scilla siehei (syn: Chionodoxa siehei), Scilla sardensis (syn: Chionodoxa sardensis), Scilla forbesii (syn: Chionodoxa forbesii); 3. Scilla bifolia; 4. Puschkinia scilloides, Puschkinia peshmenii in Turkey.