Limonium vravronense Erben & Brullo, 2016

Brullo, Salvatore & Erben, Matthias, 2016, The genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) in Greece, Phytotaxa 240 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

70. Limonium vravronense Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 70 )

Type :— GREECE. Sterea Ellas: Vravrona-Amolia, 28 August 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (holotype MSB-164025!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, glauca, 30–50 cm alta, foliis 25–45 × 6–10 mm, spathulatis ad oblanceolato-spathulatis, subretusis, laevibus, supra tuberculatis, margine plus minusve revolutis, 1-nerviis, caulibus paucis, rugosis vel verrucosis, ramis sterilibus pluribus, spicis 20–75 mm longis, spiculis 7.5–8.5mm longis, crassis, 2–4-floris, ad 2–3 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.4–2.7 × 2.8–3.0 mm, late triangulari-ovata, apice acuta, bractea media 2.8–3.0 × 2.5–3.0 mm, late elliptica, bractea superiore 5.9–6.1 × 4.9–5.2 mm, elliptico-obovata, apice rotundata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 5–6 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.3–1.5 mm exserto, tubo dense piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.6 × 0.8 mm, triangulari-ovatis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub–shrub 30–50 cm tall, with few erect stems and a robust tap–root. Caudices 3–10 cm long, branched; densely spirally leafy, living leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves fleshy, glaucous, more or less flat, smooth, sometimes upper side tuberculate with many crateriform glands, 25–45 mm long and 6–10 mm broad, spathulate to oblanceolate–spathulate, apex obtuse to rounded, slightly retuse, margin more or less revolute, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 15–40 cm long, glaucous, flexuous, rugose to verrucate with many crescent–shaped glands, branching begins near the base of the stems. Inflorescence mostly obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches several, 1–4.5 cm long, straight to slightly curved, unbranched. Fertile branches 3–8 cm long, slightly arched to straight, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 40°–60°, unbranched or loosely branched. Spikes 20–75 mm long, straight to arched, obliquely inserted. Spikelets thick, 7.5–8.5 mm long, composed of 2–4 flowers, remotely arranged with 2–3 per cm, laterally slightly curved near the base. Outer bract 2.4–2.7 mm long and 2.8–3.0 mm broad, broadly triangular–ovate, acute; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.8–3.0 mm long and 2.5–3.0 mm broad, broadly elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 5.9–6.1 mm long and 4.9–5.2 mm broad, elliptic–obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 4.5–4.8 mm long and 3.0– 3.8 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.7–0.9 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 5–6 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.3–1.5 mm; calyx tube densely, long hairy, with 5 ribs ending at the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.6 × 0.8 mm, triangular–ovate. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to Attica, where it grows on few localities ( Fig. 95A ).

Habitat: —Schistose rocky coast.

Etymology: —The epithet “ vravronense ” refers to Vravrona, a locality in Sterea Ellas where the plant grows.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. vravronense has a habit similar to that one of L. atticum , from which it differs by having fewer sterile branches, shorter, broader, rugose inner bracts, and densely hairy calyx tubes.

Specimens examined (Paratype): — GREECE. Sterea Ellas: Vgethi (litorale scisti), 27 August 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben) .

Figures

FIGURE 70. Limonium vravronense Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Attica, Vravrona-Amolia, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 95. (Map 10) Geographical distribution of Limonium vravronense (A); L. proliferum (B).