Allium nerimaniae Koçyiğit & E. Kaya, 2020

Koçyiğit, Mine & Kaya, Erdal, 2020, Allium nerimaniae (Amaryllidaceae), a new species of A. sect. Codonoprasum from Turkey, Phytotaxa 435 (1), pp. 16-24 : 17-20

Allium nerimaniae Koçyiğit & E. Kaya , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Type: — TURKEY. B9 Van, Gürpınar, around Sapakonak village , elevation 2535 m, 7 July 2013, E. Kaya 4455 ( holotype: ISTE!; isotypes: NGBB!, AEF!) .

Bulb ovoid-subglobose, (1–)1.5–2(–2.5) × 1.6–2.3(–2.5) cm, outer tunics light brown, testaceous, with a fibrous collar, inner tunics yellowish to dirty-white, papyraceous; bulblets absent. Scape (30–)50–60(–70) cm long and 2.5–3 mm wide, cylindrical, velutinous, terete, erect, covered for 1/2–2/3 of its length by the velutinous leaf sheaths. Leaves 4–5(–6), 8–10 cm long and 2.5–3 mm wide, shorter than scape, flat, canaliculate, scabrid. Spathe persistent with two unequal valves, longer than umbel, valves acuminate, longer valve 8–10 cm long, shorter valve 6–7 cm long, 8–11 nerved, with slightly villous, entire margins. Inflorescence dense and almost globose, 6–6.2 cm diam., more than 100-flowered; pedicels almost equal, slender, filiform, 3–3.5 cm long in flower, pruinose. Perigone globose; tepals unequal, oblong, truncate, yellowish-dirty white, purple striate at apex; inner tepals 4.5–5 × 1.8–2 mm with dark purple-mauve midrib; outer tepals 3.5–4 × 1.8–2 mm with green midrib. Stamens exserted; filaments 4.5–5 mm long, 1.25 × perigone length, whitish-yellow, subulate, connected below into an annulus 0.5–0.6 mm long; anthers yellow, ovate, 0.8–1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, rotundate at apex. Ovary ovoid-globose, 1.7–2 × 1.5–1.7 mm. Style 4.5–5 mm long, white, 1.25 × stamens length and 2 × perigone length; stigma globose. Capsule globose–oblong, 4.5–5 × 4.7–5 mm. Seeds black, wrinkled, oblong, 1.2–1.5 × 2.9–3.4 mm.

Etymology:— The species is named in honor of the eminent Turkish botanist Prof. Dr. Neriman Özhatay, who is one of the experts for the genus Allium in the world and dedicated her life to better understand the Turkish Flora, on the occasion of her retirement from Istanbul University.

Distribution and ecology: — Allium nerimaniae is endemic to Turkey and distributed in the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region ( Fig. 3 ). It grows on alpine meadow slopes at elevations of 2500–2550 m and it is only known from the type locality ( Van) ( Fig. 4). Species associated with A. nerimaniae include several geophytes as Allium akaka Gmelin ex Schultes & Schultes f. in Roemer & Schultes (1830: 1132), A. stipitatum Regel (1881: 355) , A. dictyoprasum C.A.Mey. ex Kunth (1843: 390) , A. tauricola Boissier (1859: 118) or Leontice ewersmannii Bunge (1847: 131) .

Leaf anatomy:— The leaf cross section of Allium nerimaniae shows a flat outline. The epidermis has small cells, and it is covered by a thin cuticle layer. Stomata and hairs are dense, also they are distributed along the whole leaf perimeter. The palisade tissue is compact, and arranged in one layer of long cylindrical cells. The spongy tissue is almost compact, with broken cells in the central part of the mesophyll, the leaf is fistulous. Many secretory ducts occur under the palisade tissue. The vascular bundles are 10–14, of which 6–7 are abaxial and 4–5 are adaxial ( Fig. 5 ).

Seed Morphology:—The seeds of the investigated new species and its related species are black and wrinkled. The seeds are generally oblong. The testa cells are polygonal and irregular. The anticlinal walls are usually raised with several verrucae. Periclinal walls bearing several verrucae and mostly one larger central verruca combined with depressed and striate anticlinal walls were found in both examined species. Hexagonal isodiametric testa cells have 1–3 large and 5–8 small verrucae in Allium nerimaniae , while the verrucae of A. hirtovaginum are irregular. Also testa cells have striate anticlinal walls in A. hirtovaginum , but they are smooth in A. nerimaniae . Seeds were measured as 2–2.3 × 1.2–1.5 mm for A. hirtovaginum , 2.8–3 × 1.2–1.5 mm for A. nerimaniae ( Fig. 6 ).

Conservation status:— The type locality of A. nerimaniae is under over-grazing pressure, the area of occupancy (AOO) is less than 10 km 2 and the extent of occurrence (EOO) is less than 100 km 2 for all sites. Hence, following the criteria established by IUCN ( IUCN 2014), an assessment of Critically Endangered (CR), criteria A4cd, B2ab(iii, iv, v), is suggested for this new taxon.

Taxonomic relationships: — Allium nerimaniae clearly belongs to A. sect. Codonoprasum because of its simple filaments, inconspicuous nectaries on the ovary and two opposite spathe valves, which are unequal and longer than the umbel. This species, for some morphological features and seed morphology is well differentiated from other allied species of this section ( Bednorz et al. 2011). In fact, there are six hairy taxa in this section from Turkey; A. aeginiense Brullo et al. (2008: 199) , A. pilosum Sm. in Sibthorp & Smith (1809: 225), A. flavum var. pilosum Kollmann & Koyuncu in Kollmann et al. (1983: 247), A. hirtovaginum , A. rhodopeum Velenovsky (1890: 58) subsp. rhodopeum and subsp. turcicum Brullo et al. (1998: 64) . However, judging from the size and morphology of the spathe valves, as well as the morphological features of ovary and stamens, this species shows close relationship with A. hirtovaginum . The new species differs well from the latter species by having a globose perigone with unequal, yellowish, dirty-white, truncate and purple striate at apex tepals, unstipitate ovary, densely velutinous scape, leaf anatomy and seed morphology. Additionally, A. hirtovaginum occurs in western Anatolia, and A. nerimaniae in restricted to eastern Anatolia. Despite the similar examined seed morphology of both species, A. nerimaniae differs from the related species in having 1–3 large and 5–8 small verrucae hexagonal testa cells with smooth anticlinal walls and larger seeds. The seed morphology usually represents a good taxonomic character in Allium and shows some differences at the species level ( Celep et al. 2012; Lin & Tan 2017). The general leaf anatomical and seed morphological differences between the new species and the related A. hirtovaginum are summarized in Table 1.

Additional specimens examined:— Allium hirtovaginum : Ankara: Çubuk I Dam , elevation 1000 m, 29 June 1984, N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 54497 !) ; Idris Mount, above Hasanoğlan , elevation 1400–1700 m, 27 June 1989, M. Koyuncu et al. s.n. ( AEF 16050 !) ; Çankırı: Between Ilgaz – Kastamonu, elevation 950 m, 17 July 1976, A. & T. Baytop s.n. ( ISTE 35176 !) ; Kurşunlu, Ilgaz, 24 km to Tosya , elevation 700 m, 6 June 1984, N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 54130 !) ; From Korgun to Kurşunlu 5 km, elevation 1150 m, 25 July 1981, N. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 47266 !) ; Eldiven Mt. , elevation 1250 m, 30 June 1984, N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 54505 !) ; Bakırlı village, elevation 1850 m, 10 July 1984, G. Sarıyer , N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 54833 !) ; between Saray–Bakırlı , elevation 1250 m, 30 June 1984, N. & E Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 54519 !) ; Kastamonu: Ilgaz Mount, Baldıran stream, elevation 1100 m, 19 July 1995, M. Koyuncu s.n. ( AEF 19625 !) ; Kastamonu – Daday, 22 km to Cide , elevation 850 m, 28 July 1983, N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 51887 !) ; from Kastamonu to Ilgaz , 8 km, elevation 1036 m, 29 July 2009, M. Koçyiğit 323 ( ISTE 87785 !) ; Balıkesir: Ayvalık, Mitralyöz , elevation 10 m, 23 June 1997, K. Alpınar s.n. ( ISTE 74095 !) ; Denizli: Çivril, Akdağ , elevation 1518 m, 20 July 2008, M. Koçyiğit 198 ( ISTE 87698 !) ; Ankara: Mamak, Hüseyingazi hills, elevation 1000 m, 11 July 1980, K. Alpınar s.n. ( ISTE 52448 !) ; Beynam forest , elevation 1450 m, 17 July 1976, M. Koyuncu, S. Başaran s.n. ( AEF 5499 ) ; Denizli: between Cankurtaran–Acıpayam , 7 June 1973 A. Baytop, E. Tuzlacı s.n. ( ISTE 25557 !) ; Honaz , elevation 870 m, 25 June 2009, M. Koçyiğit 275 ( ISTE 87752 !) ; from Denizli to Çardak 24 km, elevation 700 m, D. 35580a ( E!) ; Muğla: Fethiye, Kayaköy , elevation 169 m, B. Gürdal 369 ( ISTE 87818 !) ; Babadağ , elevation 875 m, 21 July 2008, M. Koçyiğit 194 ( ISTE 87694 !) ; Sandıras Mount, Sandallı , elevation 1100 m, 19 June 1980, E. Tuzlacı, N. & E Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 44812 !) ; Beyobası village , elevation 100 m, 23 June 2009, M. Koçyiğit 267 ( ISTE 87744 !) ; Köyceğiz , elevation 64 m, 23 June 2009, M. Koçyiğit 269 ( ISTE 87746 !) ; Akköprü–Karabayır, elevation 670 m, above Ağla , elevation 900 m, 21 June 1980 E. Tuzlacı, N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 44886 !) ; Marmaris, Günnücek , elevation 30 m, 20 June 1980, E. Tuzlacı, N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 44879 !) ; Muğla-Marmaris road, 5 km to Maramaris , elevation 35 m, 23 July 2008, M. Koçyiğit 200 ( ISTE 87700 !) ; Marmaris–Aksoz road, s.l. 23 July 2008, M. Koçyiğit 201 ( ISTE 87701 !) ; between Dikencik– Ağla , elevation 1600 m, 12 July 1978, N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 40555 a) ; from Ula to Köyceğiz , elevation 80 m, 23 June 2009, M. Koçyiğit 270 ( ISTE 87747 !) ; Antalya: Between Eşen–Kalkan, Xanthos , elevation 60 m, 28 May 1988 N. & E. Özhatay ( ISTE 58666 ) ; Fethiye, Korkuteli , elevation 1270 m, 23 Jun 1980, E. Tuzlacı, N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 44979 !) ; Fethiye–Korkuteli road, 10 km to Söğüt , elevation 1400 m, 23 July 2008, M. Koçyiğit 176a ( ISTE 87690 !) ; Antalya: Korkuteli, elevation 1000 m, E. Tuzlacı , N. & E. Özhatay s.n. ( ISTE 45008 !) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Allium nerimaniae (ISTE voucher number: 100000/Van).A) Inflorescence, B) Perigone, C) Scape, D) Leaf sheaths.

FIGURE 2. Details of Allium nerimaniae: A) Inflorescence, B) Perigone, C) Bulb and scape, D) Tepals and filaments, E) Ovary, F) Capsule, G) Leaf sheaths, H) Indumentum of scape, I) Indumentum of leaf sheaths, J) Outer tunic.

FIGURE 3. Distrubution map of A. nerimaniae (star) and A. hirtovaginum (squares) in Turkey.

FIGURE 5. Leaf cross section of Allium hirtovaginum (ISTE 87747) (A) and A. nerimaniae from living material of type locality (B) (Scale bar 1 mm).

FIGURE 6. Scanning electron micrographs of seeds of Allium nerimaniae (A-C) (Source of material: ISTE 100000) and A. hirtovaginum (D-F) (Source of material: ISTE 87694).