Phelipanche portoilicitana (A. Pujadas & M.B. Crespo) Carlón, G. Gómez, M. Laínz, Moreno Moral, Ó. Sánchez & Schneeweiss (2005: 9)

Piwowarczyk, Renata, Pedraja, Óscar Sánchez, Moral, Gonzalo Moreno, Fayvush, George, Zakaryan, Narine, Kartashyan, Nune & Aleksanyan, Alla, 2019, Holoparasitic Orobanchaceae (Cistanche, Diphelypaea, Orobanche, Phelipanche) in Armenia: distribution, habitats, host range and taxonomic problems, Phytotaxa 386 (1), pp. 1-106 : 39-40

11. Phelipanche portoilicitana (A. Pujadas & M.B. Crespo) Carlón, G. Gómez, M. Laínz, Moreno Moral, Ó. Sánchez & Schneeweiss (2005: 9) . Type: SPAIN: (holotype): Valencian Community, Alicante [Alacant]: Elx [Elche], La Marina, pr. Hostal Galicia, UTM: 30SYH0724, 3 m, 26 April 2002, leg. M.B. Crespo, A. Pujadas, E. Triano & C. Burgadella (COA-31083); isotypes: ABH-57393-1!; K-000899627!; P-02428256!; VAL-205845!. Basionym:— Orobanche portoilicitana A. Pujadas & M.B. Crespo (2004: 98) . Heterotypic synonyms:— Orobanche gypsogena A. Pujadas & Triano (2011: 274) . Misapplied names:— Phelypaea caesia sensu Reut. in Candolle (1847: 6) nom. illeg. [p.p.], non Orobanche caesia Reichenbach (1829: 48) ; Orobanche olbiensis sensu A. Pujadas & M.B. Crespo (2000: 219) , non Phelypaea olbiensis Cosson (1849: 8) ( Carlón et al. 2008: 43). Fig. 25 .

Distribution: —In one of the hottest and most arid regions of Armenia, in Ararat province, close to the border with Nakhchivan ( Fig. 26).

General distribution: —Until now, known only from the Mediterranean Basin: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Marocco, Spain, and Tunisia ( Carlón et al. 2008; Sánchez Pedraja et al. 2016). Our discoveries in Armenia are the first from the Asian range.

Habitat: —Loamy slopes on the roadsides, with sparse vegetation, with dominant host and ruderal xeric species, 1600‒1800 m.

Hosts: —Parasitic on Asteraceae , exlusively on Centaurea sp. (s.l.). In Armenia parasitising on C. behen L. [ Microlophus behen (L.) Takht.]. In the Mediterranean Basin, usually on C. aspera L. [aggr.], less frequently on other Centaurea species.

Phenology: —Flowering mid June to early July, fruiting July–August.

Conservation status: —Critically Endangered (CR) – B 1 ab (iii) + 2 ab (iii); D. Only two very close locations are known in Armenia. The population is small, subpopulations consist usually of more than 10 shoots up to 50. Limiting factors are restricted EOO and AOO, and the proximity of human settlements and the main road.

Notes: —Similar habitats are also occupied by Phelipanche heldreichii and can be confused with P. portoilicitana from which it can be differentiated by the distinct host ( Eryngium vs. Centaurea ) and the characteristics given in the key. Moreover, it was confused with other species of “Gruppe der Trichocalyces” sensu Beck (1890: 117), species usually with calyx-teeth longer than the calyx-tube. To avoid confusion, we can indicate that P. portoilicitana is characterised by a stem which is relatively thick and frequently covered with numerous scales, usually simple or sometimes branched at/or below ground level; inflorescence dense, many flowered; flowers usually erect, more rarely erecto-patent; calyx (7‒) 9‒11 mm, creamy to light yellowish-brown; corolla 16‒21 mm, pale, bluish-violaceus or bluish-rosaceus (see also Carlón et al. 2008, Piwowarczyk et al. 2017c).

Specimens examined: — ARMENIA. Ararat prov.: Lanjanist SW , ca. 1.5 km SW of Lanjanist , slopes near main road, 39°51’38”N, 44°56’35”E, 1645 m, 13 June 2017, R . Piwowarczyk ( KTC); SE of Urtsalanj , slopes near main road, 39°49’10”N, 44°59’58”E, 1770 m, 14 June 2017, R . Piwowarczyk ( KTC) .

Figures

FIGURE 25. Phelipanche portoilicitana. A. Parasite attached to the root of host-Centaurea behen. B–F. Inflorescences. Photos by Renata Piwowarczyk.