Orobanche zajaciorum Piwow. (2015: 215)

Piwowarczyk, Renata, Pedraja, Óscar Sánchez, Moral, Gonzalo Moreno, Fayvush, George, Zakaryan, Narine, Kartashyan, Nune & Aleksanyan, Alla, 2019, Holoparasitic Orobanchaceae (Cistanche, Diphelypaea, Orobanche, Phelipanche) in Armenia: distribution, habitats, host range and taxonomic problems, Phytotaxa 386 (1), pp. 1-106 : 66-67

9. Orobanche zajaciorum Piwow. (2015: 215) . Type ― GEORGIA (holotype): “ Samtskhe Javakheti : steep rocky slopes, S exposure, on the road between Tsaghveri and Kimotesubani, 10 km ESE of Borjomi, 1056 m, 2 June 2014 ”, R. Piwowarczyk ( KTC!); isotype ( KRA!). Fig. 33F .

Distribution: —Mainly southeastern (Syunik prov., eastern slopes of the Zangezur mountain range), rarely in central parts (Gegharkunik prov., eastern slope of Pambaki mountain range) ( Fig. 44).

General distribution: —Probably endemic to the Caucasus, occuring in Georgia ( Piwowarczyk 2015a), Armenia (Piwowarczyk in Nobis et al. 2016), and recently in Russia, NW Greater Caucasus: Republic of Adygea ( Rätzel & Uhlich 2016).

Habitat: —Rocky slopes, often sandy and loamy, rocky steppe communities, usually 1400–2000 m.

Hosts: — Scutellaria sp. ( Lamiaceae ), such as S. karjaginii Grossh. , S. sosnowskyi Takht. , S. orientalis L.

Phenology: —Flowering (May) June (July), fruiting (June) July (August).

Conservation status: —Endangered (EN) – B 2ab(iii). AOO is less than 500 km 2, severely fragmented, existing at no more than 5 locations (3 locations in 2 floristic regions). Populations are usually small, containing from a few to a dozen individuals. Limiting factors are restricted EOO and AOO, loss/degradation of habitats caused by overgrazing and expansion of mining areas.

Notes: —Due to its small size, small distinctively curved geniculate flowers (to 17 mm), simple and narrow calyx segments, as well as its peculiar host, it is difficult to confuse with other taxa of the Orobanche subsect. Orobanche [O. trib./Grex Galeatae sensu Beck] or others.

Specimens examined: — ARMENIA. Gegharkunik prov.: northwest of Lake Sevan , between Semyonovka and Tsovagyugh, rocky grasslands, on slope with southwestern exposure, 2005 m, 9 July 2015, R . Piwowarczyk ( KTC, KRA) ; Syunik prov.: Kapan distr. , between Geghi and Geghavank, rocky slope, 39°13’21”N, 46°10’46”E, 1470 m, 15 June 2017, R . Piwowarczyk ( ERCB, KTC); Kapan distr. , between Getishen and Karut, rocky slope, 15 June 2017, 39°14’13”N, 46°’08’34” E , 1650 m, R . Piwowarczyk ( KTC, ERCB); NW of Geghi, in direction to Karut , rocky slope, 39°13’50,9”N, 46°08’27,8”E, 1625 m, 15 June 2017, R . Piwowarczyk ( KTC); Kapan distr. , between Nor Astghaberd and Ajabaj, rocky slope, 39°13’58”N, 46°06’58,3”E, 1735 m, 16 June 2017, R . Piwowarczyk ( KTC); between Kajaran and Tashtun pass, rocky and sandy slope, 39°08’12,3”N, 46°11’00,2”E, 2005 m, 16 June 2017, R . Piwowarczyk ( KTC) .

Figures

FIGURE 33. General habit of: A. Orobanche coerulescens, B. O. cernua, C. O. grenieri, D. O. lutea, E. O. caryophyllacea, F. O. zajaciorum. Photos by Renata Piwowarczyk.