Saxifraga kavrunensis B.Gürcan & O.D.Düşen, 2023

Gürcan, Betül, Düşen, Olcay & Kaya, Ergun, 2023, A new species of Saxifraga (Saxifragaceae) from northeastern Anatolia, Turkey, Phytotaxa 603 (2), pp. 150-162 : 155-158

Saxifraga kavrunensis B.Gürcan & O.D.Düşen , sp. nov. ( Fig. 4 )

Type: — TURKEY. Rize: Yukarı Kavrun, around Mount Mezovit , 2446 m, 40°51’49” N, 41°07’51” E, 22 July 2019, B. Gürcan 1783 (holotype PAMUH!) .

Diagnosis:— Saxifraga kavrunensis is morphologically similar to S. paniculata subsp. paniculata but clearly differs from it by having long-sized flowering stem and intense dots on its petals. The other most distinctive feature is zirconium secretion from the hydathodes of the leaves.

Description: —Plant densely caespitose perennial, forming cushions. Leafy shoots columnar, with the previous year’s imbricate brown dead leaves remaining. Dense basal rosettes of flat, stiff, leathery leaves. Leaves, 12‒22 mm × 3.5‒6 mm, obovate to oblong, obtuse to acuminate, glaucous, ciliate in the middle, smooth above, with distinctive white lime-encrusted pores present on each tooth of the leaf margin. Flowering stems 14‒32 cm high, with densely stalked glands, maroon. Inflorescence with 8‒73 flowers, pedicels 7‒34 mm long, bracts 3‒8 mm long, densely glandular. Calyx 3‒6 mm × 1‒2 mm, 2/3 split, lobes 3‒4 mm × 2‒3 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acute, nerveless, densely glandular, maroon. Petals 4‒7 mm × 1‒2 mm, obovate-cuneate, white with densely maroon spots with 3 nerves. Stamens 10, 2‒5 mm, filaments 1.5‒4 mm, anthers 0.5 mm yellow, ovary semi-inferior. Capsule subglobose, 3.5‒6 mm, maroon in immature, dark brown when dry.

Seed Structure: —Seeds are dark brown, oblong-lanceolate, 0.72‒0.90 mm × 0.30‒0.45 mm, glabrous and densely granulate over the entire surface ( Fig. 5 ).

Pollen Structure: —Pollen grains of S. kavrunensis are monads, tricolpate, P = 20.47‒25.25 μm, E = 23.83‒28.45 μm. P/E (0.88 μm) is spheroidal. Colpus long, extending to the poles, broad, margin regular. Exine ± 1.51 μm. Intine ± 1.32 μm. Ornamentation is microgemmate, striate ( Fig. 6 ).

Distribution and Ecology: — S. kavrunensis is endemic to the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. It grows in crevices in calcareous rock at an elevation of 3300 m ( Fig. 7 ).

Phenology: —Flowering from July–August. Fruiting from August–September.

Etymology: —The specific epithet is derived from the type locality on Yukarı Kavrun Plateau, in Rize.

Vernacular name: —Kavrun Taşkıranı in Turkish.

Proposed Conservation Status: — S. kavrunensis is known only from one restricted locality. It is suggested that this new taxon should be placed under the IUCN threat category ‘Critically Endangered (CR)’, because the estimated area of occupancy is less than 10 km 2 (criterion B2) and it is known only from one locality (criterion B2a). In addition, the distribution area of the new taxon may be destroyed by anthropogenic effects such as tourism or grazing in the near future ( IUCN 2012).

Other specimens examined: — S. paniculata subsp. paniculata ( Fig. 8 ) TURKEY. Artvin: Murgul, Şevval Hill , limestone rocks, 2497 m, 41°13’N, 41°37’E, 25 July 2019, B. Gürcan 1795, M.L. Sevim (PAMUH) . Bursa: Uludağ, calcerous rocks around Aynalı Lake , 2280 m, 13 August 2017, B. Gürcan (1735) (PAMUH) . Kocaeli: Yuvacık, Aytepe, Rasim’s rocks, 850 m, 26 May 2013, S. Yüzbaşıoğlu 3859 ( ISTE 99692 !) . Karab ̧k: Keltepe , 1850 m, 13 July 1984, M. Demirors ( ANK 1957 !) . Kastamonu: Ilgaz Mountain , north of the TRT transmitter, rock cracks, 41°02’N, 33°40’E, 2165 m, 10 July 2003, Ali A. Dönmez 11765, J. Milton (HUB!) . Gümüşhane: Torul , rocky slopes, 1100 m, 30 May 1993, Ali A. Dönmez 3222, J. Metzger ( ISTE 72370 !) . Trabzon: Araklı, around the village of Karadere Valley , 1350 m, 26 May 1983, M. Vural, A. Güner ( GAZI 2007 !) . Erzurum: 50 km northwest of Erzurum, between Aktaştepe and Ardıç Hill , in the stream and on the slope, 2200 m, 13 July 1976, A. Tatlı 4588 (HUB!) . Rize: Çamlıhemşin, Amlakit Plateau, cliffs above Kaygut , 2700 m, 19 July 1974, A. Güner 1055 ( HUB 11203 !) . Trabzon: Uzungöl, Haldızan , rocks, 3100 m, 29 August 1995, S. Terzioğlu ( KATO 12052 !) . Ardahan: Yalnızçam , alpine vegetation, 2400 m, 09 June 2004, Ö. Eminağaoğlu 4587 ( ISTE 89495 !) . Kars: Göle, Balçeşme Village, around Şeref Plateau , 15 July 1981, N. Demirkuş 1296 ( HUB 11198 !) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Saxifraga kavrunensis: A) General view of habit B) Flower C) Capsule.

FIGURE 5. FESEM photos of seed coat of S. kavrunensis A) General shape B) Seed coat surface; FESEM photos of seed coat of S. paniculata subsp. paniculata C) General shape D) Seed coat surface.

FIGURE 6. FESEM photos of pollen grains of S. kavrunensis A) Polar view B) Detail of pollen grain surface.

FIGURE 7. Distribution map of S. kavrunensis (asterisk), S. paniculata subsp. paniculata (triangle) in Turkey.

FIGURE 8. S. paniculata subsp. paniculata: A) General view of habit B) Flower C) Capsule.