Centaurea baseri Köse & Alan, 2013

Kose, Yavuz Bulent & Alan, Sevim, 2013, Centaurea baseri (Compositae), a new species from Turkey, Phytotaxa 117 (1), pp. 23-29 : 23-25

Centaurea baseri Köse & Alan , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Centaurea dursunbeyensi affinis , a qua caulibus procumbentibus (nec erectis vel ascendentibus), appendicibus phyllorum decurrentibus, foliorum basalium segmentis terminalibus 1–2 mm (nec 5–8 mm) latis, involucris 5–10 mm longis et 3–5 mm latis (nec 7–10 mm longis et 5–7 mm latis), acheniis pilosis (nec glabris) differt. A Centaurea aphrodisea caulibus procumbentibus (nec erectis), foliis basalibus pinnatisectis (nec pinnatipartitis), involucris 5– 10 mm longis et 3–5 mm latis (nec 10–14 mm longis et 5–10 mm latis), acheniis pilosis (nec subglabris) differt.

Type: — TURKEY. Afyon: Emirdağ, Calbalı, Tahtalı , rocky place, 38 o 54' 21.1ʺ N, 31 o 12' 51.0ʺ E, 1772 m, 4 Jul 2009, YBK 1566 (holotype ESSE) .

Description: —Perennial with woody rootstock. Stems procumbent, 14–42 cm tall, branched above. Leaves densely tomentose; basal leaves 1–2-pinnatisect, 3–4.5 cm long, ultimate segments linear to lanceolate, 1–2 mm broad; median leaves 1–2-pinnatisect, with 4–7 lateral lobes, ultimate segments linear; upper leaves linear. Involucres 5–12 × 3–5 mm, ovoid, funnel-shaped in fruiting time. Phyllaries pluriseriate, linearoblong; outer phyllaries 4–7 mm long, median phyllaries 6.5–10 mm long, inner phyllaries 9–12 mm long (including appendages) ( Fig. 2 ). Appendages large, concealing basal part of phyllaries, rounded, distinctly decurrent, with strawy margin and firmer central part, irregularly lacerate, ending in a 0.5–1.3 mm spinule. Marginal flowers pinkish, radiant, central flowers white. Achenes brown-coloured, 2–4 × 1.5–3 mm, hairy. Pappus double, with scabrid setae, outer series 2.5–5 mm long, inner series ca. 0.5 mm long.

Distribution and suggested conservational status: —Endemic to Central Anatolia (Afyon province) ( Fig. 4 ). Centaurea baseri is a rare and extremely localized species that should be classified as Critically Endangered (CR), according to the IUCN (2001) categories. It has an area of occupancy of less than 10 km 2 and is known to exist at no more than one location (criterion B2a). Also, the habitat is experiencing a continuing decline owing to grazing (criterion B2b-iii).

Ecology: — Centaurea baseri occurs in limestone rock crevices and on rocky slopes. It is an endemic to Central Anatolia, an Irano-Turanian element. This species grows together with Chamaecytisus hirsutus (L.) Link, Astragalus andrachneifolius Fenzl , Phlomis armeniaca Willd. , and Marrubium astracanicum Jacq. subsp. astracanicum , at altitudes of 1500–2000 m above sea level. Flowering time—June. Chamaephyte.

Etymology: —The species is named in honour of Prof. Dr. Kemal Hüsnü Can Başer who is one of the editors of The Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands, vol. 11.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habit of Centaurea baseri (from the holotype, YBK 1566).

FIGURE 2. Phyllaries of Centaurea species. A. Centaurea baseri (YBK 1566). B. Centaurea aphrodisea (YBK 1527). C. Centaurea dursunbeyensis (YBK 1535).

FIGURE 4. Distribution areas of Centaurea baseri, C. dursunbeyensis and C. aphrodisea.