Aubrieta alshehbazii Dönmez, Uğurlu & M.A.Koch, 2017

Dönmez, Ali A., Aydin, Zübeyde Uğurlu & Koch, Marcus A., 2017, Aubrieta alshehbazii (Brassicaceae), a new species from Central Turkey, Phytotaxa 299 (1), pp. 103-110 : 104-105

Aubrieta alshehbazii Dönmez, Uğurlu & M.A.Koch sp. nov. ( Fig. 1A–C )

Type: — TURKEY. Afyon: Çay, Karakuş Mountain, between Aydoğmuş–Armutlu villages, limestone, 38°23’11”N, 030°46’55”E, 1100 m, 31 March 2001, A. A. Dönmez 8282 (Holotype: HUB!; isotypes: HEID!, HUB!). Paratypes: Afyon: Çay, above Armutlu village, limestone crevices, mixed scrub of Juniperus – Quercus , 38°23’58”N, 030°49’47”E, 1230 m, 15 April 2016, A. A.Dönmez 19737 ( HUB!); ibid. A. A.Dönmez 19738 ( HUB!); ibid. A. A.Dönmez 19739 ( HUB!); ibid. A. A.Dönmez 19741 ( HUB!).

Diagnosis: The new species is allied to Aubrieta pinardii Boiss. , but it differs from it by elliptic to obovate leaf shape, entire leaf margin, sessile and clasping leaf base, sparsely leaf indumentum and shorter inflorescence.

Description: Densely caespitose herbs with remnants of previous years zigzag stem (5–12 cm) and leaves. Flowering stems 4–6(–8) cm; covered mixture of pubescent with stalked, (3–)4–5-rayed dendroid, simple long setose and forked trichomes. Current stem leaves 4–5, similar to each other, sessile, slightly clasping stem, elliptic to obovate, 7–10(–13) × 4–5(–8) mm, entire, acute, rarely obtuse at apex; stalked (2–)3–5(–7)-rayed and rarely long simple or forked bristles on both surfaces and margin, relatively less hairy adaxially. Racemes lax, slender, with 2–3(–5) flowers, densely pubescent. Sepals lanceolate, 7–9 × 1–2.2 mm, pubescent, violet outside, glabrous inside, inner sepals saccate, margins membranous, apex obtuse, cucullate. Petals violet, 14–16 × 6–8 mm, well differentiated into an obovate limb and a claw 7–10 mm. Filaments narrowly winged, white in lower half, violet towards apex; median ones 8–10 mm, lateral 6–7 mm, with mucro-like lateral appendage; anthers narrowly elliptic, 1.9–2.1 × 0.9–1.1 mm. Fruit broadly linear, 15–19 × 3.5–4.5 mm (excluding style), slightly curved, mostly straight, compressed parallel to the septum; uniformly pubescent with short-stalked 5–7-rayed trichomes, mature valves slightly reticulate-veined; style 6–8 mm; stigma capitate, entire. Seeds biseriate, c. 10–15 in each locule, dark brown, rounded to broadly elliptic, wingless, not mucilaginous when wetted, 1.6–1.9 × 1.1–1.4 mm, papillate.

Distribution, habitat and conservation status: − The specimens are growing in rocky outgrows at steppe in Turkey. A. alshehbazii and A. pinardii ( Fig. 1D ) are growing in the same area, but the first is found only on rock crevices and the second is found both on soil and rock crevices ( Fig. 2 ). The area is covered by Juniperus excelsa Bieb. , Quercus coccifera L., Amelanchier parviflora Boiss. , Cotoneaster nummularia Fisch. & Mey. and Astragalus angustifolius Lam. On rock crevices Cerasus prostrata (Lab.) Ser. , Draba bruniifolia Stev. , Scrophularia libanotica Boiss. and Allium scorodoprasum L. are abundant species.

Aubrieta alshehbazii is known from several locations situated between 1000–1300 meters a.s.l. (Fig. 3). The growth area is under grazing pressure. However, the plants are mostly confined to the rock crevices, and they are not grazed by animals. However, there is a marble quarry nearby, and since the distribution range of the species is relatively narrow (approximately 10 km ²) this might cause severe and major threat for extinction in near future. Hence, due to geographic distribution and population size, we proposed CR (B1a+2a) threat category for the species ( IUCN 2016).

Etymology:— The specific epithet honors the plant taxonomist Ihsan Ali Al-Shehbaz, who dedicated most of his scientific career to solving the complex taxonomy and systematics of Brassicaceae .

Phenology:— Flowering in March–April; mature fruiting in May–June.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A, B, C. Aubrieta alshehbazii, 15 April 2016 (A.A. Dönmez 19737); D. A. pinardii, 14 April 2016 (A.A. Dönmez 19730) (locality: Çay; photographs were taken by Dönmez).

FIGURE 2. A. Habitat of A. alshehbazii and A. pinardii; B. Close view of A. alshehbazii with flowers and fruits, 15 April 2016 (A.A. Dönmez 19737); C. Close view of A. pinardii with flowers and fruits, 14 April 2016 (A.A. Dönmez 19730) (locality: Çay; photographs were taken by Dönmez).