Cephalaria kirsehirica Hamzaoğlu & Göktürk, 2025

Hamzaoğlu, Ergin, Göktürk, Ramazan Süleyman, Kaya, Ergun, Özkaya, Damla Ekin, Yapar, Yakup & Behçet, Lütfi, 2025, A New Species of Cephalaria (Caprifoliaceae) from Central Anatolia (Türkiye), Phytotaxa 689 (1), pp. 117-127 : 119-124

Cephalaria kirsehirica Hamzaoğlu & Göktürk , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3 , Table 2)

Diagnosis: — Cephalaria kirsehirica is related to C. elazigensis . It differs from C. elazigensis , mainly by leaves herbaceous (not coriaceous), capitula subglobose and 1.5–2 cm in diameter in fruit (not ovoid and 1–1.5 cm in diameter in fruit), involucral bracts ovate and 3–4 mm wide (not ovate-orbicular or orbicular and 4–6 mm wide), involucel pilose (not sericeous) ( Table 2).

TYPE:— TÜRKİYE. Kırşehir: Between Akpınar and Kırşehir, c. 3 km from Kaman crossroad to Kaman, 1270 m a.s.l., calcareous steppes, 10 July 2020, E.Hamzaoğlu 7737 & M.Koç ( holotype GAZI!, isotypes AKDU!, ANK!, HUB!).

FIGURE 2. Distribution map of Cephalaria kirsehirica (★), C. elazigensis var. elazigensis (■), and C. elazigensis var. purpurea (●).

Description: —Slender, erect perennial herbs. Stem simple or branched from base, up to 1 m, somewhat suffrutescent at the base, completely densely stellate hairy. Leaves herbaceous, simple, with minute stellate hairs on both surfaces, entire margin, acuminate; lower leaves lanceolate, petiolate, 5–17 × 0.5–1 cm; cauline leaves similar to lower leaves, lanceolate, but short petiolate, 6–12 × 0.8–2 cm; upper leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, sessile, 0.5–5 × 0.1–0.4 cm. Capitula subglobose, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter in flower, 1.5–2 mm in diameter in fruit. All bracts straw-colored, rarely purple-brownish at apex, margin ciliate; involucral bracts ovate, 5–7 × 3–4 mm, pubescent outside, acute at apex; receptacle bracts oblong-spathulate or spathulate, 7–14 × 3–5 mm, pubescent and pilose outside, acuminate at apex. Calyx cupuliform, 2–3 mm in diameter, irregular teeth. Corolla 9–14 mm long, purple, densely adpressed pilose outside. Involucel 4-angled, oblong, 8–14 mm long in fruit, light brown, pilose, 4 long and 4 short teeth at apex; long teeth 4 mm long, short teeth 2 mm long.

Distribution, habitat and ecology: — Cephalaria kirsehirica is endemic to Central Anatolia, Kırşehir Province in Türkiye (Fig. 2). It is distributed in calcareous steppes ranging between 1200–1300 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 3 ). It is associated with other endemics plants such as Astragalus condensatus Ledeb. (1843: 639) , Odontarrhena pateri (Nyár.) Španiel, Al-Shehbaz, D.A. German & Marhold (2015: 2486) , Convolvulus assyricus Griseb. (1844: 75) , Minuartia anatolica (Boiss.) Woronow (1914: 92) var. arachnoidea McNeill (1963: 371) , Prangos meliocarpoides Boiss. (1844: 81) var. meliocarpoides , Ebenus laguroides Boiss. (1843: 99) and non-endemic plants such as Asphodeline damascena (Boiss.) Baker (1876: 276) subsp. damascena , Eryngium campestre L. (1753: 233) var. virens Link (1869: 50) , Festuca valesiaca Schleich. ex Gaudin (1811: 242) , Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult. (1824: 345) , Onobrychis oxyodonta Boiss. (1843: 93) var. armena (Boiss. & Huet) Aktoklu (2012: 481) , Teucrium polium L. (1753: 566), Thymus sipyleus Boiss (1844:16) .

Phenology:—Flowering from June to July. Fruiting from June to August.

Etymology: —The specific epithet is derived from type locality.

Proposed Turkish name for the new species: — Kırşehir pelemiri.

Paratypes:— TÜRKİYE. Kırşehir: Between Akpınar and Kırşehir, c. 3 km from Kaman crossroad to Kaman , 1255 m a.s.l., calcareous steppes, 16 July 2003, E.Hamzaoğlu 3537 ( GAZI!, AKDU!) ; ibid., 1270 m a.s.l., 27 July 2023, E.Hamzaoğlu 8113 ( GAZI!, AKDU!) ; ibid., 28 July 2007, R. S.Göktürk 6090 ( AKDU!) .

Taxonomic notes:— In Türkiye, the genus Cephalaria is represented by 45 species ( Göktürk et al. 2014, Semiz et al. 2024). With the addition of C. kirsehirica , the total number of species reached 46. A morphological comparison of C. kirsehirica and C. elazigensis is given in Table 2.

PCR reactions were performed using the six primers that gave the best band profile for the Cephalaria genus among the twenty-two ISSR primers tested. As a result of visualizing the products obtained as a result of PCR on agarose gel, a total of 59 band profiles ranging from 50bp to 1250bp were obtained from taxa of C. elazigensis var. elazigensis , C. elazigensis var. purpurea , and C. kirsehirica ( Fig. 4 ).

In the phylogenetic dendrogram constructed as a result of the analysis of 1/0 scores using images of band profiles, it was seen that there was a relationship between all three taxa at the variety level ( Fig. 5 ). Based on the distance matrix, this relationship appears to be stronger between C. kirsehirica and C. elazigensis var. purpurea , due to the distance index between individuals of both taxa populations varies between 0.51 and 0.57. On the other hand, it was observed that the distance index between C. elazigensis var. elazigensis and C. elazigensis var. purpurea varied between 0.36 and 0.41, and between C. elazigensis var. elazigensis and C. kirsehirica it varied between 0.67 and 0.70 ( Table 3).

Cephalaria kirsehirica is endemic to Central Anatolia ( Kırşehir Province) and grows in calcareous steppes ( Fig. 3A ). Cephalaria kirsehirica is morphologically similar to C. elazigensis . C. elazigensis is endemic to East Anatolia ( Elazığ and Bingöl Provinces) and grows in serpentine steppes ( Fig. 3B ). In table 2, C. kirsehirica and C. elazigensis were compared.

Understanding genetic variation in biodiversity and identifying plant genetic resources ( Arzani & Ashraf 2016, Ellegren & Galtier 2016), including wild species useful to humans (e.g. Perrino et al. 2014, Abenavoli et al. 2021, Ben Mahmoud et al. 2024) will help those working on this subject. Molecular markers are very important in this respect, and they are especially useful tools for detecting duplicate plants in the collection and verifying varieties. Molecular analyses can be useful keys, especially in situations where morphological features that are very close to each other cannot be distinguished and may cause doubt for the researcher ( Galatalı et al. 2021, Gürcan et al. 2023). Similarly, in our study, the ISSR marker technique was used in the morphological characterization of Cephalaria species C . elazigensis var. elazigensis, C. elazigensis var. purpurea , and C. kirsehirica to increase understandability and eliminate question marks. In this context, from the data obtained as a result of the analysis of PCR products, it can be said that all three evaluated taxa are separated from each other at the variety level . This result we obtained at the molecular level also supports the morphological data. Molecular data specifically support a closer relationship between C. elazigensis var. purpurea , and C. kirsehirica . On the other hand, the relationship with C. elazigensis var. elazigensis is close to both, but it suggests that both taxa may originate from C. elazigensis var. elazigensis .

In populations separated by a geographical barrier, speciation can occur over time under the influence of environmental conditions. It is extremely rare for speciation not to occur among individuals of a population with the same ancestor separated by a geographical barrier ( Dieckmann & Doebeli 1999). Similarly, in our study, due to the geographical barrier between them, a speciation at a variety level may have occurred among individuals belonging to a population with a common ancestor, depending on time and environmental conditions ( Fig. 4 ), and therefore, there may be a need to distinguish difficult characters by morphological characterization method in determining differentiation ( Vinuesa et al. 2018). Molecular approaches can be useful in overcoming these difficulties, especially in taxa that are difficult to characterize ( Vinuesa et al. 2018, Voglmayr et al. 2018, Bonsanto et al. 2023), such as the Cephalaria genus. In particular, the morphological characterization key may not work effectively in distinguishing subspecific taxa ( Zurita et al. 2018, Uvarova et al. 2020).

Molecular analyses have been an effective solution in supporting morphological characterization, similar to our recent study in distinguishing a species belonging to the Cephalaria genus. In this study, in which the ISSR marker technique was used, molecular analyses provided strong support in revealing the difference between C. scoparia Contandr. & Quézel (1976: 430) and C. dirmilensis Hub.-Mor. (1979: 369) which are thought to be morphologically close, from C. saldaensis Göktürk, Hamzaoğlu & Yüceol (2023: 175) which is thought to be a new species ( Göktürk et al. 2023). The data obtained from this study supports our study. Similarly, ISSR primers were used in the morphological distinction of two taxa belonging to the Plocama Aiton genus, which were difficult to distinguish at the variety level , and molecular characterization supported the morphological characterization in making a distinction at the variety level ( Göktürk et al. 2019) .

Conservation status: — Cephalaria kirsehirica is known only from one locality with small populations in Kırşehir Province. It is suggested that this new species should be placed under the IUCN threat category “Critically Endangered (CR)” ( IUCN 2024), because the estimated area of occupancy is less than 10 km 2 (c. 1 km 2, criterion B2), and it is known only from one locality and a quarry nearby (criterion B2a). The population size of the new species is estimated to be less than 250 mature individuals (c. 180 mature individuals, criterion C2a–i). Populations of the new species are threatened by intense grazing pressure and mining activities.

Specimen examined:— Cephalaria elazigensis var. elazigensis . TÜRKİYE. Elazığ: Maden, 8 km from Maden to Ergani , dry slopes, 900 m a.s.l., 30 July 2001, R.S. Göktürk 4698 & M. Göktürk (AKDU!, ANK!, HUB!, GAZI!); ibid., 14 August 2013, R. S. Göktürk 7679, F. Göktürk & E. Göktürk ( AKDU!) ; ibid., 16 July 2023, Y. Yapar 6188 ( AKDU!) ; ibid., 31 July 2023, Y. Yapar 6190 ( AKDU!) ; Elazığ: north of Arıcak, Tahtla location, stony slopes, 1701 m a.s.l., 25 August 2019, Y. Yapar 3319 & L. Behçet ( BIN 12121 !) ; Bingöl: Genç, Çevirme village, Şahin hill, steppe slopes, 2150– 2225 m a.s.l., 16 July 2020, A. Çetin 803 & L. Behçet , ( BIN 9863 !). Cephalaria elazigensis var. purpurea . TÜRKİYE. Elazığ: Maden, 8 km from Maden to Ergani, dry slopes, 900 m a.s.l., 30 July 2001, R. S. Göktürk 4697 & M. Göktürk ( AKDU!, ANK!, HUB!, GAZI’) ; ibid., 14 August 2013, R. S. Göktürk 7680, F. Göktürk & E. Göktürk ( AKDU!) ; ibid., 16 July 2023, Y. Yapar 6189 ( AKDU!) ; ibid., 31 July 2023, Y. Yapar 6191 ( AKDU!) ; Elazığ: north of Arıcak, Tahtla location, stony slopes, 1701 m, 25 August 2019, Y. Yapar 3320 & L. Behçet ( BIN 12123 !) ; Arıcak, southwest of Cuber plateau, steppe slopes, 2054 m a.s.l., 01 July 2017, Y. Yapar 3079 ( BIN 8483 !) ; Arıcak, Cuber plateau, steppe, 2126 m a.s.l., 19 July 2020, Y. Yapar 4993 ( BIN 9811 !) ; Arıcak, south of Affır plateau, steppe slopes, 1880 m a.s.l., 08 August 2017, Y. Yapar 3888 ( BIN 12123 !) ; Arıcak, Hacı Ali hill, steppe slopes, 2402 m a.s.l., 23 June 2021, Y. Yapar 6047 ( BIN 12124 !) ; Elazığ: Palu , between Palu and Beyhan, 10. km, railway bridge south, steppe, 1200–1250 m a.s.l., 20 August 2016, L. Behçet 11936 ( BIN 4831 !) ; between Palu and Beyhan , 4–5. km, steppe slopes, 900–1000 m a.s.l., 20 August 2016, L. Behçet 11979 ( BIN 4835 !) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habit of Cephalaria kirsehirica (A), C. elazigensis var. elazigensis (C) and C. elazigensis var. purpurea (E); flowering capitula of C. kirsehirica (B), C. elazigensis var. elazigensis (D) and C. elazigensis var. purpurea (F).

FIGURE 3. Habitat of Cephalaria kirsehirica (A), C. elazigensis var. elazigensis, and C. elazigensis var. purpurea (B).

FIGURE 4. Visualization of ISSR PCR band profiles on agarose gel. M1, 1kb DNA ladder; M2 100bp DNA ladder; (-), negative control without DNA template; (+), Positive control using DNA template from different species (Olea europaea L.). Ck, Cephalaria kirsehirica; Cee, Cephalaria elazigensis var. elazigensis; Cep, Cephalaria elazigensis var. purpurea.

FIGURE 5. Phylogenetic dendrogram was constructed via the UPGMA based on 1/0 scoring results of PCR band profiles analysed on agarose gel (The numbers on the branches are the numbers of individuals belonging to the population). Ck, Cephalaria kirsehirica; Cee, Cephalaria elazigensis var. elazigensis; Cep, Cephalaria elazigensis var. purpurea.