Gymnospermium maloi Kit Tan & Shuka, 2011

Tan, Kit, Shuka, Lulëzim, Siljak-Yakovlev, Sonja, Malo, Sadik & Pustahija, Fatima, 2011, The genus Gymnospermium (Berberidaceae) in the Balkans, Phytotaxa 25, pp. 1-17 : 3-10

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/phytotaxa.25.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/945D8788-FFE4-FE5C-2C8B-5C547D86656B
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Gymnospermium maloi Kit Tan & Shuka
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

1. Gymnospermium maloi Kit Tan & Shuka View in CoL , sp. nov. ― Figs. 1–5 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5

Species nova a Gymnospermio scipetaro notis sequentibus differt: tubera majora (4–15 cm diametro, non 2–6 cm), folia basalia majora et plura, caules floriferi magis numerosis (4–14, non 2–4), foliola crassiora et magis glauca, flores in racemo plures (15–40, non 8–18).

Type:― ALBANIA. South Albania: UTM 34T DK1 and 34S DK3, Gjirokastra district, Mt. Picari, E- and NEfacing limestone slopes, by Përroi i Qarrit (ravine of Quercus ) at 950 m to Rrëza e Shpatit (foot of slope) at 1400 m, in terra rossa depressions or open clearings of Prunus mahaleb and Quercus trojana woodland, 16 April 2007, Shuka & Malo 1068 (holotype TIR!, isotypes ATH!, C!, private herbaria Kit and Shuka).

Paratypes:— loc. ibid., 9 April 2008, Shuka & Malo 1186 ( TIR), 1187 (private herbarium Shuka) .

Herbaceous, ± glabrous perennial with subglobose tuber, (3–)4–13(–15) cm (mean 8.3 cm) in diameter. Flowering stems 4–14(–20), rarely one, terete, fleshy, green, brown to purplish at base, 4–7 mm in diameter, 20–40 cm long including subterranean part; each stem with single cauline leaf positioned just below the first flower of inflorescence. Basal leaves 4–16, compound-ternate, each primary division palmately divided into 5(–7) leaflets. Leaflets sessile or with petiolules 2–10 mm long, unequal, entire, oblong-obovate or broadly obovate, 2–6(–8) × 1.5–4.0(–5.5) cm, median leaflet often the largest, emarginate or rarely obtuse, thick, glaucous, green above, greyish-green beneath; basal leaflets 1.5–2.0 × size of cauline ones ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Inflorescence a dense, terminal raceme, (6–)8–15(–20) cm long, pendent-deflexed, bracteate, with 12–25(–40) flowers; oldest flower far distant from the others. Bracts large, broadly obovate to suborbicular-reniform, broader than long, 9–12 × 10–14 mm, often mucronate at apex. Pedicels green, 10–20 mm long, patent in flower, recurved-deflexed in fruit. Flowers trimerous, hypogynous, hermaphrodite, 18–26 mm across (including sepals). Sepals imbricate, 3 + 3, unequal, elliptical or oblong-ovate, 10–16 × 4–10 mm, obtuse or slightly notched at apex, petaloid, bright lemon-yellow, greenish-yellow at exterior of base. Petals (honeyleaves) 6, equal, opposite sepals, golden-yellow, nectariferous, cuneiform, 3.0–4.0(–4.5) mm long, concave at base, lateral margins in upper half of petal inwardly rolled, apex shallowly and irregularly 3–4(–5)-toothed, the two lateral teeth longer, recurved. Stamens 6, opposite and 1.5 × length of petals, glabrous or puberulous at middle, lower part enclosed by petal, upper half excurved above petal providing a zig-zag appearance; filaments 3.5-4.0 mm long; anthers oblong-ovoid, 3 mm, bilocular, basifixed, dehiscing by apically-hinged flap-like valves. Carpel solitary, excentric, 5–6 mm long; ovules (2–)3–4 on a basal placenta; style 5–6 mm; stigma small, truncate-papillate. Fruit a subglobose capsule enclosing 2–4 ovoid-pyriform seeds. Seeds 6–9 mm long, including white, stipe-like strophiole, green at splitting of membranous pericarp, turning blackishbrown at maturity. Flowering mid-March to early April according to elevation; fruiting April to May.

Differing from G. scipetarum by its larger tubers (4–15 cm in diameter, not 2–6 cm), larger and more numerous basal leaves, larger number of flowering stems (4–14, not 2–4), thicker and more glaucous leaflets (not thin and green on upper surface) and more numerous flowers per raceme (12–40, not 8–18).

Distribution, habitat and ecology:— Populations of G. maloi were found in open depressions and clearings on ravine slopes at 950–1450 m within the thermophilous oak forest belt in Gjirokastra district, southern Albania ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). It has so far been noted only on Mt Picari and Mt Kendrevica. The surrounding dolomitic limestone was formed in the Upper Cretaceous. The reddish-brown soil (terra rossa) is neutral to slightly alkaline ( Table 2). The area has a Mediterranean-type climate, influenced by a long hot dry period from late May to September. Predominant woody species include Acer monspessulanum L., A. platanoides L., Fraxinus ornus L., Ostrya carpinifolia Scop. , Quercus cerris L., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl. , Q. pubescens Willd. and Q. trojana Webb. Around the depressions were Crataegus monogyna Jacq. , Prunus cocomilia Ten. , P. mahaleb L., and Rosa canina L. Herbaceous plants comprise Anemone hortensis L., Arum italicum Mill. , Asphodeline lutea Rchb. , Bellis perennis L., Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) P.Beauv., Bromopsis erecta (Huds.) Fourr. , Cerastium glutinosum Fr. , Clinopodium vulgare L., Corydalis solida (L.) Clairv. subsp. incisa Lidén , Crocus chrysanthus (Herb.) Herb. , Dactylis glomerata L., Elymus hispidus (Opiz) Melderis , Festuca paniculata (L.) Schinz & Thell., Fritillaria ionica Halácsy , Galanthus reginae-olgae Orphanides , Geranium asphodeloides Burm. f., Helleborus odorus Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd. , Koeleria splendens C.Presl , Lolium perenne L., Origanum vulgare L., Phleum pratense L., Ranunculus ficaria L., Symphytum bulbosum Schimp. , Tanacetum vulgare L., Thymus longicaulis C.Presl , Trifolium pratense L., Trisetum flavescens (L.) P.Beauv., Viola graeca Hal. and V. odorata L. At lower elevations Phlomis fruticosa L. and Salvia officinalis L. were also present.

Chromosome number, karyotype features and genome size:— According to Kosenko (1978, 1979) the genus Gymnospermium has x = 8 and a relative chromosome length of 6.1 µm to 15.9 µm. The diploid chromosome number of 2 n = 16 is reported for both the genera Leontice L. and Gymnospermium , whereas in the genus Bongardia C.A.Mey. 2 n = 12, 14, 24 have been noted. However, the chromosome number of Gymnospermum maloi is 2 n = 14 with 1 metacentric, 1 meta-submetacentric and 5 submetacentric chromosome pairs ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ) and the genome size 2C = 29.44 ± 0.47 pg.

Eponymy:— Named for Dr Sadik Malo ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ) who had completed a detailed investigation on the flora of Gjirokastra district in southern Albania, and was the first to find this species in April 2007 .

Additional specimens cited:— ALBANIA. Mt. Picari, 9 April 2008, Malo & Shuka 1215–1221 (TIR); Gjirokastra district, NE slopes of Mt. Picari, open or shaded places in Ostrya carpinifolia forest, 1000 m, 40°12’N, 20°02’E, 8 April 2010, Kit Tan & G. Vold 30872 (private herbarium Kit); loc. ibid., 1200 m, 8 April 2010, Kit Tan & G. Vold (with Malo & Shuka) 30875 (living plants to Copenhagen Botanical Garden and University of Paris-Sud); Mt. Kendervica, SE of village Zlezi, Barina et al. (as G. scipetarum ).

2. Gymnospermium scipetarum E.Mayer & Pulevi ć in Mayer (1984: 278).― Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 & 3–4 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 .

Synonyms:— Gymnospermium shqipëtarum Paparisto & Qosja (1976: 95) , nomen inval., sine indic. typus. Gymnospermium altaicum (Pallas) Spach subsp. scipetarum (E.Mayer & Pulević) Tan, Kit & Mullaj (2001: 319) . Type:― MONTENEGRO (Crna Gora). In declivitate septentrionali montis Rumija supra pagum Virpazar, in silva Fagi

sylvaticae, 850 m, 16 May 1982, E. Mayer, M. Mayer & Pulevi ċ 10845 (holotype private herbarium E. Mayer 1) .

Herbaceous perennial with subglobose tuber 2–6 cm (mean 4.1 cm) in diameter, rarely larger. Flowering stems (1–)2–4, terete, fleshy, green above, purplish at base, 3–4 mm in diameter, 15–30 cm long including subterranean portion; each stem with single cauline leaf positioned just below the first flower of inflorescence. Basal leaves (2–)3–7(–10), compound-ternate, each primary division palmately divided into 5–6(–7) leaflets. Leaflets sessile or with petiolules 2–7 mm long, unequal, entire, lanceolate to elliptical-oblong, rarely broadly obovate, (1.0–)1.5–3.0(–4.0) × 0.5–1.5 cm, median leaflet often the largest, obtuse or truncate-mucronate at apex, thinner in texture and less glaucous than in G. maloi , green on upper surface, greyish-green beneath; basal leaflets 1.3 × size of cauline ones ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Inflorescence a lax, terminal raceme, 6–12(–14) cm long, pendent-deflexed, bracteate, with 8–18 flowers; oldest flower far distant from the others. Bracts large, obovate to suborbicular, broader than long, 9–10 × 10–11 mm, often mucronate at apex. Pedicels 15–30 mm long, elongating and recurved in fruit. Flowers trimerous, hypogynous, hermaphrodite, 16–24 mm across (including sepals). Sepals imbricate, 3 + 3, unequal, elliptical or ovate, 10–14 × 3–6 mm, petaloid, lemonyellow, greenish yellow at exterior of base. Petals (honey-leaves) 6, equal, lemon- to golden-yellow, nectariferous, opposite and at least 1/3 length of sepals, cuneiform, 3.5–4.0(–4.5) mm long, concave at base, lateral margins in upper half of petal inwardly rolled, apex shallowly and irregularly toothed, the two lateral teeth longer, recurved. Stamens 6, opposite and 1.7 × length of petals, 6.0– 6.5 mm long, glabrous; filaments zig-zag, lower part enclosed by petal, upper half excurved above petal; anthers oblong-ovoid, bilocular, basifixed, dehiscing by apically-hinged flap-like valves. Carpel solitary, excentric, 5.5–6.5 mm long; ovules 4 on a basal placenta; style 5–6 mm long; stigma small, truncate-papillate. Fruit a subglobose capsule enclosing 1–4 ovoid-pyriform seeds. Seeds 6–8 mm long, including white, membranous stipe-like strophiole, still green at splitting of membranous pericarp, turning blackish-brown at maturity. Flowering mid-March to mid-April, fruiting to late June.

Distribution, habitat and ecology:— Gymnospermium scipetarum occurs in the limestone mountains of Kruja and Shalqini in central Albania and Mt. Rumija in southern Montenegro. The habitat differs from that of G. maloi , being damp black or grey soils rich in humus (terra fusca) in Fagus L. or Ostrya L. forest, which in the Kruja and Shalqini Mts. are slightly more acidic, and with several layers above a thin clay stratum overlying flysch. The geological age of the surrounding mountains is Lower and Upper Cretaceous (Albian- Cenomanian) with Palaeogene sequences ( MIM 1983). The following herbaceous plants were in flower at the same time: Anemone blanda Schott & Kotschy , A. nemorosa L., Cardamine plumieri Vill. , Corydalis cava Schweigg. & Kort. , Crocus dalmaticus Vis. , Galanthus nivalis L., Primula acaulis Hill , Scilla bifolia L., Symphytum tuberosum L., Viola aetolica Boiss. & Heldr. and V. riviniana Rchb. The basal leaves develop and emerge before the flowering stems in more than 75% of the plants observed, very rarely appearing at the same time. The peak flowering period is early April as observed over four years, from 2007 to 2010.

Chromosome number and genome size:— The chromosome number is unknown, and the genome size is 2C = 29.55 ± 1.35 pg.

Additional specimens cited:— ALBANIA. Kruja district, Mt. Sari Salltek, 890–1000 m, 22 March 1974, Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., 10 May 1974, Paparisto & Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., 30 April 1975, Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., 29 March 1978, Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., in clearings of open woodland with Pteridium aquilinum , 920 m, 41°31’N, 19°48’E, 28 June 2000, Kit Tan & G. Vold (with A. Mullaj & V. Tartari ) 23205 (living plants to Copenhagen and Göteborg Botanical Gardens); loc. ibid., 5 May 2004, Shuka 125–126 (TIR), 127 (private herbarium Shuka).

Elbasan district, Shalqini Mt., Guri i Zi, 870–900 m, 27 March 1974, Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., 24 March 1976, Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., 29 March 1978, Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., Kodra e Mucanit, Guri i Shalqinit, 1200 m, 11 April 1979, Paparisto & Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., 4 April 1980, Tartari (TIR) ; loc. ibid., 22 March 1984, A. Mullaj (TIR); Mali i Shalqinit, above village of Guri i Zi, 19 km from Elbasan to Tirana, open clearings in Fagus sylvatica forest, 41°10’N, 20°09’E, 900 m, 26 June 2000, Kit Tan & G. Vold (with A. Mullaj & V. Tartari ) 23203 (living plants to Copenhagen, Göteborg and Lund Botanical Gardens); loc. ibid., 9 April 2009, Shuka 1827–1829 (TIR); loc. ibid., 3 April 2010, Shuka 2476–2477 (TIR); 2478 (private herbarium Shuka).

More than 50 sheets of G. scipetarum are present in the herbarium of Tirana University (TIR). The material has been collected mainly from Kruja and Elbasan districts by V. Tartari ; these localities even now are the only two known localities in Albania. The tubers from Kruja Mts. are much smaller, averaging 2–3 cm in diameter and the numbers in this locality have decreased in the last decade. On Shalqini Mts. the plants cover entire slopes in their thousands, with tubers reaching 12 cm in diameter. The locality at 1930 m from Mali i Alamanit (Mat district), cited in the Red Book of Albanian Flora ( Anonymous 2007) is erroneous.

MONTENEGRO. near the mountain pass between Mt. Rumija and Mt. Sutorman, below the peak Vrsuta, edge of Ostrya carpinifolia - Fagus sylvatica forests, limestone, c. 900 m, flowering March to mid-April, Stevanovi ċ (living plants to University of Belgrade Botanical Garden); village of Limljani-Djolaza between Virpazar and Sutorman pass, edge of Ostrya-Carpinus orientalis scrub, 780 m, 2 February 2002, Petrovi ċ (pers. comm., V. Stevanović, March 2011).