Silene goksuensis Budak, Hamzaoğlu & Koç, 2018

Budak, Ümit, Koç, Murat & Hamzaoğlu, Ergin, 2018, Silene goksuensis (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from south Turkey, Phytotaxa 345 (2), pp. 170-174 : 171-172

Silene goksuensis Budak, Hamzaoğlu & Koç sp. nov. ( Figs. 1‒3).

Type:— TURKEY. C4 Karaman:between Bucakkışla to Ermenek, near Göksu river , 1460‒1500 m,rock crevices, 36 o 43’34”N, 032 o 54’55”E, 27 July 2012, Hamzaoğlu, Budak & Koç 6540 (holotype GAZI!; isotypes ANK!, Bozok Univ. Biology Dept. Herbarium!) .

Diagnosis: — Silene goksuensis is morphologically similar to S. longipetala , from which it differs by the stems 15‒35 cm long (not 30‒60 cm long as in S. longipetata ), glabrescent to very sparsely pilose below (short retrorsely pubescent below in S. longipetata ), the basal leaves oblanceolate-spathulate (not obovate or oblanceolate), the inflorescence 3‒9- flowered (not 15‒60-flovered), petal limbs divided to 1/4, lobes 0.9‒1 mm long (not deeply bifid, lobes 4‒5 mm long), capsule 4‒4.5 mm long (not 6‒7 mm long), and styles 2.5‒3.0 mm long (not 7.5‒9.5 mm long).

Description: —Perennial, soft erect, stems thinly, 15‒35 cm long, glabrescent to very sparsely pilose pubescent below, glabrous above. Basal leaves petiolate, petiole 0.5‒5 cm long, sparsely to densely pilose; lamina oblanceolatespathulate, 0.5‒1.8 × 0.3‒1.0 cm, sparsely to densely pilose on both surface, apex acute, margins ciliate, base attenuate; upper cauline leaves similar buth smaller and ± sessile. Inflorescence lax, 3‒9‒flowered. Bracts linear‒laneceolate, 3‒8 × 0.5‒1.2 mm, glabrescent to sparsely pilose, margins ciliate; bracteoles similar to bracts but smaller, 1‒2 mm long. Pedicels 0.7‒2.0 cm long, glabrous or very sparsely pilose at the base. Calyx 6‒8 mm long, glabrous, teeth acute, with scarious and ciliate margin. Petals 8‒9 mm long, white; claw 4‒5 mm long, margin ciliate; limb 4‒5 mm long, divided to 1/4, lobes 0.9‒1.0 mm long; coronal scales present, 2‒3 mm long. Filaments 5‒6.5 mm long, glabrous. Anthophore 3.5‒4 mm long, glabrous. Capsule ± ovoid, 4‒4.5 mm long, glabrous, as long as the calyx; styles 3, 2.5‒3 mm long.

Etimology: —The species epithet refers to Göksu river from Turkey (Ermenek-Karaman).

Seed micromorphology:—Seeds orbicular, 1–1.2 × 0.6–0.8 mm; blackish; densely granulate; ventral surfaces tuberculate, have a central papillate, cells subrectangle, regular; anticlinal cell walls certain V-undulate; dorsal surfaces echinate, have a central papillate, cells subrectangle, regular; anticlinal cell walls certain V-undulate.

Distribution and habitat: — Silene goksuense is here considered as an endemic species currently known only the type locality (S-Anatolia, Ermenek/ Karaman), where it grows at altitude between 1460‒1500 m, in rock crevices.

Phenology: —Flowering time June− July, fruiting time July− August.

Conservation Status:— Silene goksuense covers a EOO of about 30 km 2. According to IUCN (2014) and the criterion B1a, it is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).

Vernacular name: —The epiteth was chosen from the locality “Göksu Nakılı” (Turkish).

Taxonomic no t es:— Silene goksuensis belongs to the sect. Lasiostemones Boissier (1867: 574) (this section currently includes 8 species, see Coode & Cullen 1966, Davis et al. 1988) because the following morphological characters: perennials plant, inflorescence usually in lax panicle, flowers usually nodding at anthesis, calyx glabrous, filaments and petal claws usually hairy (Coode & Cullen 1966).

Silene goksuensis is morphologically similar to S. longipetala , but differs from the latter in having the stem glabrescent to very sparsely pilose below (not short retrorsely pubescent below as in S. longipetata ), the basal leaves oblanceolate-spathulate (not obovate or oblanceolate), the inflorescence 3‒9-flowered (not 15‒60-flovered), petal limbs divided to 1/4 (not deeply bifid), seed ventral surfaces tuberculate, have a central papillate; dorsal surfaces echinate, have a central papillate (not ventral and dorsal surfaces tuberculate) (Table).

Other specimens examined:— Silene longipetala . TURKEY. Kahramanmaraş: Engizek mountain , 1400-1500 m, 15 June 1987, H. Duman 3326 ( GAZI!) ; Adana: Pozantı to Ulukışla road 20 km from Pozantı , 1000 m, 24 June 1993, Z. Aytaç et al. 5863 ( GAZI!) ; Şanlıurfa: Siverek, between Karacadağ‒Karabahçe , 1260 m, 08 May 2001, Vural 8538 ( GAZI!) ; İçel: between Mut-Gülnar, above Sütlüce village , 1000 m, 19 June 1982, Kaymaz 5657 ( GAZI!) ; Sivas: Between Kangal‒Hekimhan , 1930 m, 39 o 09’06”N, 037 o 27’40”E, 26 June 2010, Hamzaoğlu 5787 (Bozok Univ. Biology Dept. Herbarium!) .