Aethionema gypsicola D. Öztürk, 2022

Öztürk, Derviş, 2022, Aethionema gypsicola, a new crucifer species from inner Anatolia, Turkey, Phytotaxa 539 (2), pp. 175-185 : 176-181

Aethionema gypsicola D. Öztürk sp. nov ( Figs. 2A–2E , 3A–3D , 4A–4B , 5A–5F , 6A–6C , 7A–7B , and 8A – 6E )

Type:— TURKEY. B3 Eskişehir: Sivrihisar; Biçer district , 39°43′44.57″ N, 31°42′19.40″ E, 1020 m elevation, 06 June 2020, D. Öztürk D.O.1650 (holotype: OUFE 16700 !; isotypes: GAZI! and ANK!) .

Diagnosis

Aethionema gypsicola differed from the related A. dumanii by its plant size (up to 6 cm), stemmed single, leaves oblong-elliptic, leaves sizes 5–10 mm, fruiting pedicel adpressed to main axis, 3–4 mm, silicula 5–6(–7) × 5.5–7 mm, fruiting wing 1.5–2.5 mm, sinus 0.5–1 mm, style 1–1.5 mm, seed not mucilaginous, 1–1.2 × 1.4–1.6 mm.

Description

Low-growing perennial, c. 3–6 cm, woody at base with usually simple erect to ascending stems, glabrous, ± glaucous. Leaves slightly fleshy, oblong–elliptic, apiculate, glabrous, 5–10 mm, margins entire ( Fig. 5 ). Sepals oblong–elliptic, 0.8–1.2 × 2–3 mm. Petals pink, 2.1–2.5 × 4–5 mm, rotund-orbiculate. Filaments connected at the base, the inner 4 filament has wings, the outer 2 filaments are wingless, anthers apiculate ( Fig. 2 ). Inflorescence subcapitate, compact, scarcely elongating in fruit ( Figs. 3 and 4 ). Ovary unilocular, 1-ovulate. Fruiting pedicels adpressed to main axis, 3–4 mm, siliculae rotund-orbicular, 5–6(–7) × 5.5–7 mm, cordate to base, wing 1.5–2.5 mm, irregularly undulatecrenate, sinus 0,5– 1 mm, style 1–1.5 mm ( Fig. 7 ). Seeds 1, ovoid, surface rugulose, not mucilaginous, wingless, 1–1.2 × 1.4–1.6 mm ( Fig. 6 ). The pollens are isopolar and pollen shape in the examined taxon is prolate. The aperture type is tricolpate. The polar axes range from 15.80 to 25.10 µm and the equatorial axes is 10.80–15.78 µm. The exine ornamentation are reticulate (Table, Fig. 8 ).

Habitat: — Marly and gypsaceous slopes, 800–1000 m.

Phenology: —Flowering April–May, fruiting June.

Etymology: — The species is named as gypsicola due to its habitat in gypsum soils. The Turkish name of this plant is assigned as “Jips Kayagülü”, according to the guidelines of Güner et al. (2012).

Suggested conservational status: — Although extensive field excursions were undertaken in the valley where the newly described taxon occurs, only 1 population was found. The occupancy area was calculated as ca 1.5 km 2 and the population size was estimated as less than 1000 individuals ( Fig. 9 ). Anthropic activities, such as overgrazing and changes in the land use, decrease the number of mature individuals and negatively affect the habitat quality of the new species. Therefore, in accordance with the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (2017), A. gypsicola was assessed as Critically Endangered, CR B2ab (i,ii,iii,v). However, this assessment is provisional, since new populations may be located as a result of future studies.

Other examined specimens:— Aethionema dumanii : — TURKEY. B3 Eskişehir district: Bozan, Alpu , 800–900 m elevation, 06 June 2020, Öztürk 870 (OUFE!); B3 Eskişehir district: Mihalıççık, Alpu, Doğanoğlu Village , 870 m elevation, 1 July 1995, M. Vural 7387 (GAZI!); B3 Ankara district: Polatlı-Sivrihisar, 18. Km, Acıkır , 840 elevation, 6 June 1990, Aytaç & Duman B.A. 3094 (GAZI!); B3 Ankara district: Polatlı-Sivrihisar, 18. km, Acıkır , 840 elevation, 20 July 1993, H. Duman 5217 (GAZI!); A4 Ankara district: Ayaşbeli , 1099 elevation, 30 June 1995, M. Vural 7348 (GAZI!); B3 Eskişehir district: Sivrihisar, Marly gypsum, 954 elevation, 06 Aug 2010, Z. Aytaç 10749 (GAZI!); B3 Eskişehir district: Sivrihisar- Afyon road, Aşağıkepen village , 850–900 elevation, 21 July 1993, H. Duman 5246 (GAZI!); B3 Eskişehir district: Polatlı-Sivrihisar 25. km, 870 elevation, 10 July 1993, H. Duman 5011 (GAZI!); B3 Eskişehir district: Alpu; Bozan , 880 elevation, 28 June 2015, OUEF: 19640 .

Seed morphology: Seeds of A. gypsicola are orange to orange-yellow, and rugulose, ca. 1–1.2 × 1.4–1.6 mm and 1 locule (see the Table and Fig. 6 ). Lacking a mucilage, the epidermal cells are irregularly pentagonal to elliptic. The seed surface ornamentation is ruminate, and those of A. dumanii have a reticulate pattern, but the reticulum is different ( Pinar et al. 2007).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habit and parts of a complete flower A. A. gypsicola, B–C. Flowers, D. Pistil, E. Stamens.

FIGURE 3. General view of A. gypsicola and A. dumanii. A–B–C–D. A. gypsicola, E. A. dumanii.

FIGURE 4. Herbarium view of A. gypsicola and A. dumanii. A–B. A. gypsicola, C. A. dumanii.

FIGURE 5. Leaf of A. gypsicola: A. front of the leaf, B. back of the leaf. Leaf of A. dumanii: C. front of the leaf, D. back of the leaf.

FIGURE 6. Seed of A. gypsicola: A. LM micrographs of the general appearance, B. SEM micrographs of the general appearance, C. closeup SEM micrographs of the seed surface. Seed of A. dumanii: D. LM micrographs of the general appearance, E. SEM micrographs of the general appearance, F. close-up SEM micrographs of the seed surface.

FIGURE 7. Fruit of A. gypsicola: A. front of the fruit and B. back of the fruit. Fruit of A. dumanii: C. front of the fruit and D. back of the fruit.

FIGURE 8. SEM micrographs of the pollen grains of A. gypsicola A. General view, B. equatorial view, C–D. Polar view, E. close-up of ornamentation.

FIGURE 9. Distribution of A. gypsicola () and A. dumanii ().