Thymus sect. Serpyllum ( Miller 1754: 3 ) Bentham (1834: 342) subsect. Pseudomarginati

Bartolucci, Fabrizio & Mráz, Patrik, 2016, A new combination in the genus Thymus and clarification on the type material of Th. thracicus (Lamiaceae), Phytotaxa 263 (2), pp. 161-164 : 161-162

Thymus sect. Serpyllum ( Miller 1754: 3) Bentham (1834: 342) subsect. Pseudomarginati (Heinr.Braun ex Borbás

1887: 214) Jalas (1971a: 210)

Thymus picentinus (Lacaita) Bartolucci , comb. & stat. nov.

Basionym:— Thymus serpyllum Linnaeus (1753: 590) var. picentinus Lacaita (1921: 215) .

Type (lectotype, designated by Bartolucci et al. 2013: 1312):— ITALY. Campania: “ Thymus longicaulis Presl forma picentinus mihi” M. Cerealto [M. Cervialto] (Avellino) in herbosis subombrosis, c. 1550 m, 20 June 1908, Lacaita s.n. ( BM barcode BM000823943 [digital image!], bottom specimen; isolectotypes BM barcodes BM000823944 [digital image!], BM000823945 [digital image!]) .

= Thymus serpyllum Linnaeus (1753: 590) subsp. thracicus ( Velenovský 1892: 16) Gavioli (1947: 222) var. gaviolii Ronniger ex Gavioli (1947: 222) , nom. illeg. (Arts. 52.1, 52.2 of the ICN, McNeill et al. 2012). Type (lectotype, designated by Bartolucci et al. 2013: 1312):— ITALY. Basilicata: Pignola, M. Serranetta in pascuis editis, alt. 1470 m, 23 Jun 1929, O. Gavioli s.n. (FI!).

Description:—Mat-forming, with long creeping non-flowering branches. Flowering stems (3–)4–8.5(–11) cm tall, hairy on two opposite sides alternating in each internode (allelotrichous indumentum), or rarely all around (holotrichous indumentum) only on the upper internodes. Cauline leaves of the same size along the stem (only the basal leaves are smaller and usually arranged in a cluster), petiolate with rare sessile oil glands, elliptical to oblanceolate, (4.6–)7–9.5(–10.2) mm long × (2.2–)2.9–4.4(–4.8) mm wide, ciliate at the base, usually hairy (rarely glabrous); central and lateral veins of the leaves prominent (visible on dried specimens). Inflorescence capitate; bracts similar to the cauline leaves. Calyx (3–)3.6–4.3(–4.5) mm long, usually reddish, tube hairy; lower calyx teeth ciliate 2–2.5 mm long, upper calyx teeth ciliate (0.6–) 0.7–1.2 mm long. Corolla lilac to purple, (4.5–)5.1–6.5(–7.1) mm long.

Distribution:—This species is a rare endemic to southern Italy (Campania and Basilicata). The previous records of Th. thracicus for Basilicata ( Gavioli 1947, Conti et al. 2005) are to be referred to this taxon; while records for Abruzzo ( Conti et al. 2005) are to be referred to Th. zygiformis Heinr.Braun in Wettstein (1892: 87) var. magellensis (Ronniger in Markgraf 1926: 429) Bartolucci & Walter (2015: 138). According to Peruzzi et al. (2014), four other endemic Thymus taxa occurred in Italy.

Habitat:—Pastures, rocky and stony slopes, on limestone or sandstone.

Phenology:—Flowering from June to July (August).

Additional specimens examined:— ITALY. Campania. M. Cerealto [M. Cervialto] (Avellino), in herbosis apricis, c. 1550 m, 20 June 1908, Lacaita s.n. ( BM barcode 10642 [digital image!]) ; M. Cerealto [M. Cervialto] (Avellino), in saxosis, c. 1700 m, 20 June 1908, Lacaita s.n. ( BM barcode BM000823937 [digital image!]) ; M. Cerealto [M. Cervialto] (Avellino), in cacumine inter saxa, c. 1780 m, 20 June 1908, Lacaita s.n. ( BM barcode BM000823938 [digital image!], W No. 2008- 16529 [digital image!]) ; stony top of Polveracchio (Salerno), c. 5875’, 8 July 1902, Lacaita s.n. ( BM barcode BM000823939 [digital image!]) ; Basilicata. Monte Santa Croce (Bella, Potenza), pascoli silicei, 1200–1400 m, 5 June 2015, F. Conti et al. s.n. ( APP No. 55912!, 55913!, 55914!, 55915!, 55916!, 55917!), ibidem, A. Stinca et al. s.n. ( PORUN!) ; ibidem, C. Gangale s.n. (Herb. Gangale & Uzunov!); Pignola in summo jugo monti Serranetta , solo siliceo, alt. 1470 m, 22 June 1923, O. Gavioli s.n. (FI!) ; Pignola in saxosis aridis Monti Serranetta, solo siliceo, alt. 1400 m, June 1907, O. Gavioli s.n. ( BM No. 10642 [digital image!]) .