Dianthus somanus Oskay, 2018

Oskay, Dilek, 2018, Dianthus somanus (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Turkey, Phytotaxa 347 (4), pp. 263-271 : 264-268

Dianthus somanus Oskay sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3).

Type: — TURKEY. B 1 Soma district, Manisa province, Kocasivri Hill, 39°15’41.4”N 27°43’20.2”E, 950 m, July 2009, (holotype EGE-42705!, Isotypes EGE!).

Description: —Perennial with woody rootstock, forming dense cushions. Sterile shoots short, densely spinose leaved. Flowering stem erect, (5–)15–20(–25) cm, branched in upper part 2–7 with long branches terminating in single flowers, covered by dense spinose leaves at base, densely long papillose. Basal leaves 17–27 × 1–3 mm, ± squarrose, narrowed from the base to an aristate apex, very stiff, margins very thick. Stem leaves 4–6 pairs, narrowed from the base to subspinose apex, 10–18 × 0.5–1 mm, shorter than internodes, margins thick and papillose. Sheaths 2–3 mm, two or three times as long as stem diameter. Epicalyx scales 6–14 pieces, oblong (narrowly ovate to ovate, long-aristate) and arista from outside to inside in smaller to bigger order, densely papillose, margins scarious ciliate, green to strawcoloured, shorter then calyx. Calyx 16–18 × 2–3 mm, green or straw-colored, clearly cylindrical, short papillose or glabrous on calyx tube; teeth 6–8 mm, sparse long papillose on calyx teeth, acute, margin ciliate. Petal, 18–23 mm, pinkish-purple or rose, usually shallowly crenulate-dentate, petal limb 6–11 × 4–7 mm, broadly oblong, sparsely barbulate, petal claw 11–12 mm; fruit capsule, 10–11 × 2–2.2 mm, clearly cylindrical, capsule teeth considerably curved outward. Seeds narrowly oblong elliptic, 2.5–3.8 mm, apex big beaked.

Seed Morphology and Micromorphology: —Seeds of Dianthus somanus are narrowly oblong elliptic, 2.5–3.8 mm, black, apex big beaked ( Fig. 4 ). Dorsal surface flat, with irregular rectangular cells, granular, teeth S-undulate, apparent. Ventral surface flat, with irregular rectangular cells, granular, teeth S-undulate, not apparent.

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Etymology: —The epithet of the new species comes from Soma district where the holotype was collected.

Phenology: —Flowering and fruiting times June− October (−November).

Distribution ( Fig. 5 ) and ecological notes: — Dianthus somanus were collected only at Kocasivri Hill, between 850 and 1050 m a.s.l, Soma district (Manisa province, W-Anatolia). As a result of observations in the field D. somanus has a local distribution in the upper part of the tree line at Kocasivri Hill. Soils of distribution area are slightly alkaline and generally calcareous structure ( Oskay &Altan 2015). Climate type is semi-arid upper Mediterranean especially winter is very cool ( Akman et al. 2012). It is an element belonging to the Mediterranean floristic region.

Taxonomic notes: — Dianthus somanus shows morphological similarities with D. goekayi , D. erinaceus var. erinaceus and D. erinaceus var. alpinus ( Table 1).

D. somanus can be distinguished from D. erinaceus var. erinaceus , and D. erinaceus var. alpinus by the length of flowering stems, number of flowering branches and posture of the stem leaves, while from D. goekayi by firstly the size of the basal leaves.

The arrangement of epicalyx scales is different in all close species ( Figure 6 ). Arista of the outhermost epicalyx scales is the longest length in D. erinaceus var. erinaceus while the shortest length in D. somanus . Epicalyx scales in D. somanus with D. goekayi is similar to each other more. But, arista of epicalyx scales from outside to inside different order in both species.

Hairiness of calyx tube and teeth are different in all close species. Also, petal limb size and petal claw length are different each other.

D. erinaceus var. alpinus .

Shape of fruit capsule in D. somanus is different all close species ( Fig. 6 ). Body of fruit capsule in D. somanus is clearly narrow cylindirical but not other related species. The teeth of fruit capsule is considerably curved outward in D. somanus whereas not other related species.

Also, seed shape, seed size and micromorphological features of seeds are different other relative species. D. somanus is separated from D. erinaceus var. erinaceus , and D. erinaceus var. alpinus quite easily in terms of seed size and shape. With regard to the micromorphology, cell edges of dorsal surface are V-undulate in D. erinaceus var. erinaceus , and D. erinaceus var. alpinus ( Hamzaoğlu et al. 2014) while cell edges of dorsal surface are S-undulate in the new species. D. somanus is similar D. goekayi in terms of seed size whereas seed shape and micromorphological characters of seeds are different in both species. Seeds are narrowly oblong elliptic, 2.5−3.8 mm, apex big beaked in D. somanus while seeds are broadly oblong elliptic, 2.2−3.7 mm, apex quite small beaked in D. goekayi . With regard to the micromorphology; cells of dorsal surface are non granular and cell edges of dorsal surface are S-undulate in D. goekayi ( Hamzaoğlu et al. 2014) while cells of dorsal surface are granular and cell edges of dorsal surface is S-undulate in D. somanus .

Conservational status: — Dianthus somanus is known from only the type locality until now. The total distribution area of the species is approximately 1 km 2 and population density seems to be good condition. The new species has been proposed as ‘Critically Endangered’ CR (criterion B2ab(i) according to IUCN 2017).

Key to Dianthus somanus and closely related species: —It follows.

1. Flowering stems with 1−2 short branched terminating single flower; cauline leaves separated from stem ................... D. erinaceus

- Flowering stems with 2−7 long branched terminating single flower; cauline leaves nearly adpressed to stem................................3

2. Flowering stems 4−14 cm; calyx 16−20 mm; petal length 18−21 mm .................................................... D. erinaceus var. erinaceus

- Flowering stems 3−4 cm; calyx 12−15 mm; petal length 14−16 mm ......................................................... D. erinaceus var. alpinus

3. Basal leaves 10−17 mm; stem leaves 9−12 mm; arista of epicalyx scales from outside to inside in bigger to smaller order; petal limb 4−6 × 3−3.2 mm ......................................................................................................................................................... D. goekayi

- Basal leaves 17−27 mm; stem leaves 10−18 mm; arista of epicalyx scales from outside to inside in smaller to bigger order; petal limb 6−11 × 4−7 mm ......................................................................................................................................................... D. somanus

Paratypes: — TURKEY. B1 Soma district, Manisa province, Kocasivri Hill, 950 m, July 2009, Oskay 1315

(EGE!), Soma district, Manisa province, Kocasivri Hill, 1000 m, November 2017, Oskay 1687 (EGE!, (CBÜ!).

Figures

FIGURE 4. SEM photographs of the seed coat of Dianthus somanus, dorsal surface; a , a , a , ventral surface; b , b , b .

FIGURE 5. Distribution map in Turkey of Dianthus somanus

FIGURE 6. Overview of epicalyx scales in the flowers and fruit capsule of the related species.Dianthus somanus (a, a1), Dianthus goekayi (b, b1), D.erinaceus var. erinaceus (c, c1), D. erinaceus var. alpinus (d, d1).