Limonium meandrinum Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

79. Limonium meandrinum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 79 )

Type :— GREECE. Dodecanese : Karpathos, Apela, 2 July 2002, Brullo & Giusso (holotype MSB-164017!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, viridis, 15–35 cm alta, foliis 10–40 × 2–3 mm, lineari-oblanceolatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus numerosis, plus minusve verrucosis ad rugosis, ramis sterilibus paucis ad pluribus, spicis 10–70 mm longis, spiculis 6.6–7.3 mm longis, 1–2-floris, ad 2–3 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 1.6–2.0 × 1.7–2.1 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice obtusa, bractea media 1.8–2.3 × 1.5–1.9 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 5.3–5.8 × 2.7–3.1 mm, oblongo-elliptica, apice rotundata, margine anguste membranaceo, calyce 4.9–5.8 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0– 1.5 mm exserto, tubo sparsim piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.7 × 0.8 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 15–35 cm tall, with many ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 20–40 mm long, densely branched, loosely spirally leafy in the upper half. Leaves fleshy, rigid, green, 10–40 mm long and 2–3 mm broad, linear-oblanceolate, apex acute to obtuse, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 14–30 cm long, more or less verrucate to rugose, flexuous, branching frequently begins near the base. Inflorescence obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches few to several, 1–7 cm long, branched. Fertile branches 1–10 cm long, slightly curved, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 35°–45°, in the upper half branched. Spikes 10–70 mm long, straight to slightly curved, erect to inserted obliquely upwards. Spikelets 6.6–7.3 mm long, composed of 1–2 flowers, remotely arranged with 2–3 per cm. Outer bract 1.6–2.0 mm long and 1.7–2.1 mm broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 1.8–2.3 mm long and 1.5–1.9 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 5.3–5.8 mm long and 2.7–3.1 mm broad, oblong-elliptical, rounded; bract margin narrowly membranous; central part fleshy, 4.0– 4.7 mm long and 1.8–2.6 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 0.7–1.1 mm long, reaching nearly the upper margin. Calyx 4.9–5.8 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0– 1.5 mm; calyx tube sparsely shortly hairy, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.7 × 0.8 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to the southeast part of Karpathos, between Ormos Apella and Kira Panagia ( Fig. 90D ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: —The epithet “ meandrinum ” refers to the intricate inflorescence.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. meandrinum is similar to L. kirikosicum in having very narrow leaves, a delicate habit with slender stems, and few sterile branches. It differs from the latter by having shorter spikelets and inner bracts.

Specimens examined (Paratypes): — GREECE. Dodecanese: Karpathos, Tal von Apella, Küstenfelsen nördl. des Kiesstrandes am Talausgang , 10 m, 6 May 1982, Raus 6153 & Pleger (Herb. Greuter); Karpathos, Ajios Nikolaos (östlich von Spoa), Steilküste 1 km südöstlich des Ortes, 10–30 m, 18 May 1982, Greuter 19158, Pleger & Raus 6470 (B); Karpathos, Kira Panagia, Strandbereich der Bucht, 0–15 m, Felsen, 12 April 1995, Kalheber 95–593 (Herb. Kalheber); Isola di Karpathos , Kira Panaghia, 29 August 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Karpathos, Kira Panaghia, 2 July 2002, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben) .

170 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 171

Figures

FIGURE 79. Limonium meandrinum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Karpathos, Apela, Brullo & Giusso s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 90. (Map 5) Geographical distribution of Limonium aucheri (A); L. fragile (B); L. kardamylii (C); L. meandrinum (D); L. messeniacum (E); L. ocymifolium (F); L. thirae (G).