Phlomoides binaludensis Salmaki & Joharchi, 2014

Salmaki, Yasaman & Joharchi, Mohammad Reza, 2014, Phlomoides binaludensis (Phlomideae, Lamioideae, Lamiaceae), a new species from northeastern Iran, Phytotaxa 172 (3), pp. 265-270 : 266-267

Phlomoides binaludensis Salmaki & Joharchi , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 A–C ).

Phlomoides binaludensis is very similar to P. labiosiformis and P. laciniata , but differs from P. labiosiformis by discolored corolla being brownish red at upper lip and yellow at lower lip, pale green and glabrous stem up to the middle part and from P. laciniata by its non-branched stem as well as larger calyx and corolla.

Type:— IRAN. Khorasan province: West of Mashhad , between Abardeh and Zoshk village, 1350 m, 37°20’21’’N, 56°40’36.1’’E, 11 May 2011, Joharchi 44307 (holotype FUMH!) .

Stout perennial herbs with distinctive basal leaves. Stem thick, 50–60 cm tall, simple, erect, pale green, internodes 7–20 cm long, often glabrous below inflorescence, rarely sparsely covered with long vermiform hairs. Basal leaves oblong to elliptic, the limb 12–14 × 6–8 cm, pinnatisect; the segments oblong to lanceolate, 3.5–5 × 1–1.5 cm, irregularly dentate at margin; petiole 8–10 cm, prominently nerved on lower surface, often glabrous, rarely covered with few long vermiform hairs; cauline leaves oblong to oblong-lanceolate, similar to basal leaves but smaller, 10–12 × 4.5–6 cm, pinnatisect; segments lanceolate, 2–3.5 × 0.5–1 cm, irregularly dentate at margin; petiole 2–6 cm, often glabrous, rarely covered with few long vermiform hairs; floral leaves lanceolate, 4–7 × 0.7–2 cm, irregularly dentate at margin, sessile, acute at apex. Verticillasters 4–5, remote throughout or a few congested above, 4–19 cm distant, 8–10-flowered, pedicels 1.5–2 mm. Bracteoles numerous, lanceolate, herbaceous, 6–10 mm long, spinescent at apex, glabrous or sparsely covered by softly simple long hairs. Calyx tubular, 2.5–3.2 × 0.7–1 cm, covered with simple long hairs and sub-sessile to sessile glandular ones; teeth subequal, lanceolate, erect to slightly recurved in fruit, 5–7 mm long, sparsely covered with simple long hairs. Corolla discolored, brownish red at upper lip and yellow at lower lip, 4–5 cm long; tube sub-included in the calyx, 2–2.5 cm long; upper corolla lip usually exceeding the lower lip, brownish-red, 2.0–2.5 × 1.2–1.4 cm, densely covered with exerted simple long hairs inside; lower corolla lip tri-lobed, yellow, 1.6–1.8 × 1.4–1.6 cm. Stamens 4, exerted from corolla tube. Style lobed unequally. Mature mericarps not seen, densely bearded at apex.

Distribution and ecology: — Phlomoides binaludensis is found in the mountain steppes of Binalud Mountains in NE Iran. Its distribution area overlaps with that of P. labiosiformis (Popov)Adylov et al. (1987: 97) to some extent ( Fig. 2 ). The new species inhabits mountainous gravelly slopes mostly with limestone as substrate, exposed cliffs and ridges, at elevation of 1350–2000 m. It grows on steep slopes and open habitats that include other annual, perennial species or geophytes, such as Allium kuhsorkhense R.M.Fritsch & Joharchi , Euphorbia densa Schrenk , Onosma longiloba Bunge , Scutellaria litwinowii Bornm. & Sint. , etc.

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to Binalud Mountains in Khorasan province, where this species is found.

Phenology: —Flowering between late April and early June and fruiting between early June and late June.

Conservation remarks: — Phlomoides binaludensis can be considered as Endangered (EN) according to the IUCN Red List ( IUCN 2010 ) categories and criteria B1ab (iii). It is known only from few localities in Khorasan province in Iran with sparse patches of limited individuals. Therefore, a conservation planning for the threatened ecosystem and species is needed .

Additional specimen examined (paratypes):— Khorasan province: 5 km after Zoshk village toward the peak of Binalud mountains , W Mashhad, 1750–2200 m, 36°19’74” N, 59°11’26” E, 28 May 2009, Salmaki et al. 38145 ( M!, TUH!,) ; N Neyshabor, Mirabad towards peak of Binalud mountains , 1700 m, 20 May 1978, Zargari 2435 ( FUMH!) ; W Mashhad, Zoshk , 1500 m, 5 May 1985, Joharchi & Safavi 12562 ( FUMH!) ; SW Chenaran, Dahan-e Akhlamad , 1500 m, 11 May 1985, Ayatollahi & Rezaei 12723 ( FUMH!) ; SE Neyshabor, S Dizbad-e Olia , 1700 m, 19 May 1996, Raafei & Zangooei 26951 ( FUMH!) ; S Mashhad, Moghan , near the cave, 2000 m, 25 May 2009, Joharchi & Zangooei 42656 ( FUMH!) .

Additional specimens examined of Phlomoides labiosiformis and P. laciniata :— [ specimens of P.labiosiformis ]: Prov. Khorasan: Gulul Sarani protected area, Kopet Dagh mts. , 12 May 1973, Rechinger 53360 ( E!, M!, W!); Shirvan, Namanlu, Kuhha-ye Gulul ( Protected Region ), 14 June 1975, Termeh 22849 ( IRAN!). Prov. Golestan: Gorgan, 20 km SE Shahpasand (Azad-Shahr), 10 May 1966, Pabot 22850 ( IRAN!); Gorgan, Gonbad-Ghabous (Gonbad-Kabus), Malek tappeh, 23 May 1956, Sharif 22851 ( IRAN!). Prov. Mazandaran: S. Amol in valley Haraz river, Furse 7064 ( K!) ; In apertis carpetinorum 38–46 km NW Fulad Mahalleh, 30 May 1975, Rechinger 52390 ( B!, W!); Golestan forest, Sabeti 5446 ( G!, TARI!); Prov Tehran: Jajrud, toward Latiyan mts , 9 May 1975, Matin & Termeh 22847b ( IRAN!); Marzan-Abad versus Kelardasht, 17 April 1978, Termeh & al. 22853 ( IRAN!) . [specimens of P. laciniata ]: Prov. Qazvin: Qazvin mts., Bornmüller 7886 ( B!) . Prov. Tehran: between Karadj et Gachsar , Schmid 5701 ( G!) ; Elburz mts. ad basin septentr. alpinum Totschal, prope Shahrestanak, Bornmüller 7887 ( B!, G!); Pabot 3239 ( G!) ; Evin- Darakeh, 3 May 1967, Termeh & al., 22871 ( IRAN!); Evin-Darakeh, Velenjak, Termeh 22866c ( IRAN!); Pichler s.n. ( LE!) ; Firuzkuh, pol-e Veresk, Gheissari 1321 ( G!, TARI!); Firuzkuh , Pol-e Veresk , 13 June 2010, Salmaki & Zarre 39154 ( TUH!) . NW Tehran, 5 km on the road to Emamzadeh Davoud , 29 May 2010, Salmaki & Zarre 39221 ( TUH!) . Prov. Gilan: in montibus ad Manjil, Bornmüller 7884 ( B!, WU!) .

The new species according to its morphological characters certainly belongs to Phlomoides sect. Filipendula . Morphologically similar species are P. labiosiformis and P. laciniata (L.) Kamelin & Makhmedov (1990: 249). The species is characterized by its pale green to white and glabrous stem (below inflorescence), simple leaves, 4– 5 verticillasters per inflorescence, large corolla and calyx and discolored corolla. It looks very different in natural habitat from perhaps its closest relative, P. labiosiformis ( Fig. 1E ). The most obvious distinguishing feature is the corolla color, which is bicolored (upper corolla lip being brownish-red and lower lip yellow) in P. binaludensis , but concolour in P. labiosiformis (upper and lower corolla lips being yellow). Moreover, P. binaludensis is easily recognizable from P. labiosiformis , by its large calyx (25–32 mm) and corolla (40–50 mm) as well as a glabrous stem. Phlomoides labiosiformis is frequent in NE Iran and has been attributed to the P. laciniata complex, which is known as a taxonomically difficult group ( Rechinger 1982). Phlomoides labiosiformis is distinguished by a calyx 20–28 mm long and corolla up to 40 mm. This species differs from P. laciniata ( Fig. 1D ), with similar habit and habitat, mainly in its calyx and corolla length, corolla color as well as stem indumentum. The main difference between P. labiosiformis and P. laciniata is the yellow corolla in the former, which is covered with long simple hairs, as well as glandular hairs on vegetative organs. The latter has a short calyx (14–16 mm) and corolla (20–25 mm), white corolla flushed with pale brown dots on lower lip. Important diagnostic characters of the new species in comparison with P. labiosiformis and P. laciniata are given in Table 1.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Phlomoides binaludensis.A.Habit.B. Inflorescence.C.Corolla, calyx and bracteoles; D.Phlomoides laciniata; E.Phlomoides labiosiformis. Photographs by Yasaman Salmaki.

FIGURE 2. Distribution map of Phlomoides binaludensis, P. labiosiformis and P. laciniata.