Taraxacum chrysocephalum Štěpánek & Kirschner, 2022

Štěpánek, Jan & Kirschner, Jan, 2022, A hotspot of endemism: Oreophytic Taraxacum species (Compositae, Crepidinae) in the mountains of Bulgaria, Phytotaxa 569 (1), pp. 1-139 : 22-25

. Taraxacum chrysocephalum Štěpánek & Kirschner , sp. nov.

Type:— Bulgaria, montes Pirin , opp. Bansko , vallis glacialis Popovoezeren cirkus: locis graminosis secundum viam turisticam lutee signatam in decl. boreal. sub saltu Samodivska porta (2500 m) inter montes Samodivski vrch (2730 m) et Malak Poležan (2822 m), ca. 4.5 km situ merid.-orient. a casa alpina Demjanica (1895 m), ca. 2350 m, 41° 42–43’ N, ca. 23° 30’ E, 8 Aug 1997, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 9281, collected in 2012 ( PRA, no. det. 35770, holotype; isotypes: PRA, no. det. 35769) .

Etymology:—Golden-headed (a compound word from Greek χρυσοϛ, gold, and κεφαλη, head).

Exsiccates:— Taraxaca Exs., no. 1316–1322.

Diagnosis:—Species insignis capitulis aureis et involucro dilute viridi pruinoso, a speciebus bulgaricis nobis notis bene distincta, petiolis pallide viridibus alatis, phyllariis exterioribus brevibus, basi laxe adpressis, parte distali erecto-patentibus vel subpatentibus, dilute viridibus, pallide viridibus vel modice saturate olivaceo-viridibus in margine angusta subhyalina sensim transeuntibus, ovatolanceolatis vel lanceolatis, stigmatibus pallide luteo-viridibus, acheniis pallide brunnescentibus corpore in pyramidem basi conicam, ceterum subcylindricam, 0.6–1.0 mm longam sensim abeuntibus.

Plants medium-sized to relatively robust, usually 12–18 cm tall. Plant base ± without tunic, with brownish hairs among petiole bases. Petiole ± broadly winged, pale green, 2–3 cm long. Leaf rosettes medium rich, subcompact to compact; leaves variously erect-patent, ± glabrous (innermost leaves sparsely arachnoid on mid-vein above), light vivid green, not spotted, oblanceolate, narrowly oblanceolate or narrowly oblong in outline, usually 6–13 × 1.7–3 cm, pinnatisect to pinnatipartite, sometimes pinnatilobed; terminal segment helmet-shaped or broadly so, or broadly triangular, usually 1–2 (–3) × 1.5–3 cm, obtuse or obtusely acute, often mucronate, distal margin subsigmoid to convex, entire or with 1–2 medium-sized teeth or with a shallow incision, basal lobules patent to subrecurved, acute, proximal margin subconcave to straight, entire; lateral segments in (2) 4–5 pairs, relatively short and broad, usually 4–11 mm long, 5–12 mm wide at base, subrecurved to recurved, rarely patent, deltoid-triangular to narrowly so, often bird-wing-like, often with an elongated narrow distal part, distal margin convex or subsigmoid, sometimes ± straight, usually with one bigger and 1– 4 medium-sized narrow acute teeth, often entire, proximal margin concave to ± straight, entire or with a single subbasal tooth; interlobes short and broad, usually (2–) 3–5 (–10) × 5–14 mm, not blotched nor darker bordered, margin usually raised, entire or with remote long acute teeth; mid-vein pale greenish or suffused brownish pink. Scapes pale green, later suffused bronze, sparsely arachnoid, overtopping leaves. Capitulum deep golden yellow, 2.5–3.5 cm wide, ± flat. Involucre light green, ± pruinose, 7–8 (–9) mm wide and broadly obconical to rounded at base. Outer phyllaries 16–19, loosely appressed at base, distally erect-patent to patent, usually ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, relatively short, reaching 2/5–1/2 of inner ones, usually 4.5–7 × (1.5–) 2.5–3 mm, light green to pale green or medium deep olivaceousgreen, slightly pruinose, with a gradual transition in a narrow, translucent-membranous or whitish-membranous border (0.1–) 0.2–0.6 mm wide, margin shortly minutely ciliate, apex flat; inner phyllaries 11–13 mm long, not variable in their width. Outer ligules ± flat, striped light to deep grey-olivaceous, sometimes only pinkish outside, apical teeth purplish, inner ligules canaliculate, with apical teeth darker yellow. Stigmas very pale discoloured, pale greenish yellowish, with hyaline pubescence outside (some hairs sometimes with a darker apex). Pollen present, irregular in size. Achenes light brownish, body 4.0–5.0 × ca. 1.0 mm, with medium dense erect-patent spinules and low, comb-like squamules, with a gradual transition into a basally conical, otherwise subcylindrical cone (0.6–) 0.8–1.0 mm long; beak (4–) 6.5–8.5 mm, pappus 5.5–6.5 mm long, white or whitish. – Agamosperm. – Fig. 2C, 4, 5.

Distribution and habitat:—Unlike the majority of mountain dandelions in Bulgaria, T. chrysocephalum is relatively widely distributed in the mountains of the western part of Bulgaria, documented from the Vitosha, Rila, Pirin and the Rodopi Mts., between 1700 and 2400 m a.s.l. It grows in wet alpine grasslands, on gravelly alluvial sites and among stones on brook banks and lake shores, and along mountain paths. Its IUCN conservation status is estimated as LC.

Specimens examined:— BULGARIA. The Pirin, township of Bansko, valley of Banderica , Banderiški ezera, Ribno ezero [lake], below Mt. Dončovi Karauli (2633 m), 2200–2250 m, 12 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 4552 ( PRA, no. det. 25428) ; Ibidem , 2300 m, JŠ 4882 ( PRA, no. det. 25417). – Bansko , valley of Banderica , valley of Vichrenska voda [brook], above the Vichren Chalet , ca. 2300 m, 13 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 4856 ( PRA, no. det. 25413) ; Ibidem, JŠ 4537/ A ( PRA, no. det. 27650) ; Ibidem, ca. 2100 m, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 4541/ A ( PRA, no. det. 27655) ; Ibidem, ca. 2400 m, 12 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 4296 ( PRA, no. det. 25421) ; Ibidem, 12 Aug 1990, JŠ 4302 ( PRA, no. det. 25424) ; Ibidem, JŠ 4883 ( PRA, no. det. 25416). – Bansko , valley of Banderica , open pine woodland above the Banderica Chalet , ca. 1900 m, 15 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 4524 ( PRA, no. det. 35778). – Banderica , slopes of Mt. Vichren , 9 Aug 1997, J. Kirschner, cultivated as JK 4671 ( PRA, no. det. 35819). – The Demjanica Chalet , stream banks, 2200 m, 8 Aug 1997, J. Kirschner, cultivated as JK 4326 ( PRA, no. det. 35828). – The Demjanica Chalet , along the path below the chalet, ca. 2200 m, 8 Aug 1997, B. Trávníček, cultivated as JK 4340 ( PRA, no. det. 35826). – The Pirin , Kazana , 2300–2400 m, 27 Sep 1987, B. Kuzmanov, cultivated as JŠ 3253/2 ( PRA, no. det. 27657) ; Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 4474 ( PRA, no. det. 27656). – Bansko , valley of Demjanica , gravelly sites along the river, ca. 1800-1850 m, 41° 45’ N, 23° 28–29’ E, 8 Aug 1997, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 6295/ A ( PRA, no. det. 27654) ; Ibidem, JŠ 9302 ( PRA, no. det. 27653) ; Ibidem, JŠ 9304 ( PRA, no. det. 27652). – Bansko , glacial cirque of Popovoezeren cirkus, wet sites above smaller lake of Banski ezera, slopes below the pass of Samodivska porta, ca. 2250 m, 41° 42–43’ N, 23° 30–31’ E, 8 Aug 1997, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 9285 ( PRA, no. det. 35767) ; Ibidem, JŠ 6292 ( PRA, no. det. 35765) ; Ibidem, ca. 2350 m, 41° 42–43’ N, ca. 23° 30’ E JŠ 6291 ( PRA, no. det. 25420) ; Ibidem, JŠ 6477 ( PRA, no. det. 25419) ; Ibidem, JŠ 6291 ( PRA, no. det. 25415). – Demjanica Chalet , shores of the first lake, 2200 m, B. Trávníček, cultivated as JK 4327 ( PRA, no. det. 35945). – The Rila , Samokov , village of Borovec , a path between the chalets Jastrebec and Musala , 2200–2350 m, 9 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek & B. Kuzmanov, cultivated as JŠ 4817 ( PRA, no. det. 25427). – Samokov , in the valley of Maljovica River , between the resort of “Kompleks Maljovica” and the alpine chalet of Maljovica , 1750–2000 m, 8 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek ( PRA, no. det. 27649) ; Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 4522 ( PRA, no. det. 25425). – Samokov , near the alpine chalet of Maljovica , 1900–2000 m, 8 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 4279 ( PRA, no. det. 25423) ; Ibidem, JŠ 4806 ( PRA, no. det. 25418). – Sofia, the Vitosha , wet sites near the alpine shelter of Kumata , ca. 1725 m, 23° 17’ E, ca. 42° 35’ N, 27 Jul 1998, J. Štěpánek, cultivated as JŠ 6935 ( PRA, no. det. 25426). – The Rodopi, Čepelare, the Černatica Mts. , Chvojna village , around Mt. Goljam Persenk (2091 m), stony slope below the summit of Mt. Persenk , ca. 2000 m, 24 Jul 1998, R. Bělohlávková, J. Štěpánek, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as TaB 17 ( B 17 ) ( PRA, no. det. 27648). – Čepelare , the Černatica Mts. , Chvojna village , Mt. Goljam Persenk (2091 m), along the tourist path ca. 3 km W. of Skalni Mostove, ca. 1900–1950 m, 24 Jul 1998, R. Bělohlávková, J. Štěpánek, V. D. Vladimirov & D. Petkova, cultivated as Ro 4 ( PRA, no. det. 25422) .

Less certain determinations:— Pirin, Mt. Vichren, near the shore of the upper lake of the Vlachinski ezera, at the eastern foot of the Gredaro Ridge , ca. 1.5 km W. of Mt. Chvojnati vrch (2635 m), 9 Aug 1997, J. Štěpánek , cultivated as JŠ 9330 (PRA, no. det. 35784). – Bansko , valley of Banderica , valley of Vichrenska voda [brook], above the Vichren Chalet , ca. 2300 m, 12 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek , cultivated as JŠ 4884 (PRA, no. det. 35779). – The Rila , Samokov , village of Borovec , near the alpine chalet of Musala , ca. 2390 m, 9 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek & B. Kuzmanov , cultivated as JŠ 4511 (PRA, no. det. 35781). – Sofia, the Vitosha , Mt. Goljam Rezen , northern slopes, ca. 2150 m, 27 ul 1998, R. Bělohlávková , cultivated as TaB 43 ( B 43 ) (PRA, no. det. 35783).

Note on the T. chrysocephalum group:—There are a few gatherings that are difficult to assign to any species of this group, i. e., T. chrysocephalum , T. blandum or T. benevolens . They were studied in the Rila collection of R. Doll (see the introductory part of this paper) and were published ( Doll 1978) under the names of Alpine species: T. panalpinum , T. ochrospermum and T. ooststroomii , all sensu Doll. Several specimens from our cultivations from Pirin were difficult to identify, either (both from the Demjanica valley, PRA, no. det. 36021, 36004). Similarly unclear remain the following gatherings: Samokov, village of Borovec, a path between the chalets Jastrebec and Musala, 2200–2350 m, 9 Aug 1990, J. Štěpánek & B. Kuzmanov, cultivated as JŠ 4817 (PRA, no. det. 35780). – Borovec, wet sites in the valley of the Bistrica rivulet, ca. 2100 m, J. Štěpánek & B. Kuzmanov, cultivated as JŠ 4284 (PRA, no. det. 35782).