Limonium helenae Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

75. Limonium helenae Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 75 )

Type:— GREECE. Eastern Aegean Islands : Chios , Akrag. Elenis, 5 June 2005, Brullo & Musarella s.n. (holotype MSB-164250!, isotypes: CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, viridis, 20–60 cm alta, foliis 20–50 × 3–6 mm, leviter rugosis, anguste oblanceolatis, apice obtusis, 1-nerviis, caulibus pluribus, rugosis ad verrucosis, subflexuosis, interdum proliferis ad axes, ramis sterilibus paucis, spicis 30–140 mm longis, spiculis 8.5–9.0 mm longis, 1–2-floris, ad 1–6 in 2 centimetris dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.8–3.2 × 2.7–3.0 mm, triangolari-ovata, bractea media 2.9–3.1 × 2.2–2.4 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 7.5–8.0 × 4.2–4.6 mm, obovata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 6.2–6.5 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0– 1.2 mm exserto, tubo dense piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.6 × 1.5 mm, late semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 20–60 cm tall, with several erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 10–15 cm long, branched, densely spirally leafy in the upper half; living leaves at apices in rosettes. Leaves fleshy, green, slightly rugose, 20–50 mm long and 3–6 mm broad, more or less narrowly oblanceolate, apex obtuse, retuse, flat, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems green, rugose to verrucate, 15–50 cm long, slightly flexuous, branching frequently begins near the base, sometimes proliferating in axils. Inflorescence obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches few, 1–5 cm long, unbranched. Fertile branches 5–15cm long, slightly arched, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 40°–60°, branched in the lower half. Spikes 30–140 mm long, straight to slightly curved, erect to directed obliquely upwards; axis of spike with many crateriform glands. Spikelets 8.5–9.0 mm long, composed of 1–2 flowers, very remotely arranged with 1–6 per 2 cm. Outer bract 2.8–3.2 mm long and 2.7–3.0 mm broad, triangular-ovate, acute to obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous, central part slightly fleshy, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.9–3.1 mm long and 2.2–2.4 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 7.5–8.0 mm long and 4.2–4.6 mm broad, obovate, rounded; bract margin more or less broadly membranous, central part fleshy, 5.8–6.2 mm long and 2.8–3.2 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 0.9–1.1 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 6.2–6.5 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0– 1.2 mm; calyx tube densely, shortly hairy, with 5 ribs ending at the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.6 × 1.5 mm, broadly semi-elliptic. Corolla pale violet.

Chromosome number: —2n = 34 (Erben Li–1730, Li–1738, unpubl.)

Distribution: —Endemic to Chios and Psara ( Fig. 93B ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: —The epithet “ helenae ” refers to Aghia Helena, a locality on Chios where this plant grows.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. helenae is similar to L. aucheri , but differs from the latter by having narrower leaves and longer spikes, spikelets, bracts and calyces.

LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 163 164 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN

Specimens examined (Paratypes): — GREECE. Eastern Aegean Islands: Chios, Cape Helenis , the outher part, 0–20 m, 23 September 1993, S. & B. Snogerup 10804 (B); Chios, Akrag. Elenis, 5 June 2005, Brullo & Musarella s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben = Li–1730, Li–1738); Chios, Karfas, 12 October 2007, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben); Regio Aegaea orientalis, insula Psara: ad sinum Arhondiki litoris occidentalis, alt. 1–5 m, ad litus, 24 April 1973, Greuter 11049 (Herb. Greuter) .

Figures

FIGURE 75. Limonium helenae Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Chios, Akrag. Elenis, Brullo & Musarella s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 93. (Map 8) Geographical distribution of Limonium echiodes (A); L. helenae (B); L. quinnii (C); L. lobatum (D); L. monolithicum (E); L. taenari (F); L. spreitzenhoferi (G).