Poa diaphora subsp. diaphora var. alpina (Boiss.) Soreng, Cabi & L.J. Gillespie, 2018

Gillespie, Lynn J., Soreng, Robert John, Cabi, Evren & Amiri, Neda, 2018, Phylogeny and taxonomic synopsis of Poa subgenus Pseudopoa (including Eremopoa and Lindbergella) (Poaceae, Poeae, Poinae), PhytoKeys 111, pp. 69-102 : 82

Poa diaphora subsp. diaphora var. alpina (Boiss.) Soreng, Cabi & L.J. Gillespie comb. nov.

Poa persica var. alpina Boiss., Fl. Orient. 5: 610. 1884.

Type.

Turkey. Plantae Lyciae, ad fonts reginis alpinae montis Elmalu, 25 Jun 1860, E. Bourgeau 271 (lectotype, here designated: G [G00330280 image!]; isolectotypes: G [G00380172 image!, p.p. central and right top two samples], G [G0038173 image!], K [K-000789856 image!]).

Distribution.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Georgia, Iran, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan(?).

Notes.

This taxon, accepted as Eremopoa bellula by several authors (see Names of Uncertain Application below), was first recognised infraspecifically by Boissier (1884) as Poa persica var. alpina . The variety is common in the highest elevations at which the genus occurs, in the alpine of Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan to the Pamir mountains, reaching 4000 m. Further study is needed to clarify the distinction of var. alpina from var. diaphora and these from Eremopoa bellula , as the material placed here appears heterogenous.

Of the six syntypes of var. alpina cited by Boissier (Bourgeau 271, hab. in alpinis, montes supra Elmali Lyciae [G00380172, G0038173, G00330280, K000789856]; Kotschy 12, Tarus Cilicicus, 5 –6000’; Prairies humides de la region alpine du Taurus, au Boulgarmden [as 12d: G00330281, K000789851 image!]; Balansa s.n., Jul-Aug 1855 [K000789857, P02358251 p.p. bottom right]; Blanche s.n., Libani cacuminal; Kotschy 477, mons Kuh Delu Persiae australis, 10 Jun 1842 [BM000959359 image!, E!, G00308632 image!, P02358251! p.p. "fo. pygmaea" bottom left]), we select Bourgeau 271 as the lectotype as it is typical of the form. As noted by Samuelsson (1950), the Sintenis syntype (mons Troodos, Cypri) represents a separate form that is treated here as Poa sintenisii . Poa persica var. “minor” Boiss. (cited by Mill, in Fl. Turkey 9: 492. 1985) is a nomen nudum since it is a herbarium name on Bourgeau 271, syntype of var. alpina Boiss.; this name is also inscribed on Kotschy 12d (p.p. G00308174), but the latter is original material, not a syntype, mentioned by Boissier (1884).