Limonium samium Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

27. Limonium samium Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 27 )

Type:— GREECE. Eastern Aegean Islands: Samos, Potami , litorale roccioso, 1 July 2003, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (holotype MSB-164031!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, glauca, 10–45 cm alta, foliis 15–40 × 5–9 mm, spathulatis ad oblanceolatis, tuberculatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus paucis, verrucatis vel tuberculatis, ramis sterilibus absentibus vel paucis, 1–4 per caulem, spicis 15–100 mm longis, spiculis 8.5–9.0 mm longis, 2–4-floris, ad 1–4 in 2 centimetris dispositis, bractea inferiore 3.0–3.3 × 2.5–2.9 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice obtusa, bractea media 3.0–3.2 × 2.2–2.3 mm, elliptica, bractea superiore 7.3–7.6 × 4.1–4.3 mm, elliptica, margine late membranaceo, calyce 6.5–7.0 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0– 1.5 mm exserto, tubo dense piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, late semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 10–45 cm tall, with few ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 2–8 cm long, branched, densely spirally leafy in the upper half, sometimes leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves coriaceous, glaucous, flat or slightly v-shaped in cross-section, tuberculate with many crateriform glands, 15–40 mm long and 5–9 mm broad, spathulate to oblanceolate, apex obtuse to acute, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 10–35 cm long, slightly flexuous, verrucate or sometimes tuberculate with crateriform glands, branching mostly begins near the base. Inflorescence trullate to obtriangular in outline. Sterile branches absent or few, 1–4 per stem, 1–3 cm long, straight, unbranched. Fertile branches 2–14 cm long, nearly straight, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 45°–70°, undivided or loosely branched. Spikes 15–100 mm long, nearly straight, erect to directed obliquely upwards; axis of spike with many crateriform glands. Spikelets thick, 8.5–9.0 mm long, composed of 2–4 flowers, very remotely arranged with 1–4 per 2 cm. Outer bract 3.0– 3.3 mm long and 2.5–2.9 broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse; bract margin more or less narrowly membranous; central part fleshy, with few crateriform glands, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 3.0– 3.2 mm long and 2.2–2.3 mm broad, elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 7.3–7.6 mm long and 4.1–4.3 mm broad, elliptic, obtuse to rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 5.5–5.8 mm long and 2.5–3.3 mm broad, oblong, with some crateriform glands, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 1.0– 1.3 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 6.5–7.0 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0– 1.5 mm; calyx tube more or less densely long hairy, with 5 ribs ending at the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, broadly semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to Samos, where it is rare ( Fig. 86B ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: —The species is named after Samos, isle in the eastern part of the Aegean Sea.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. samium is quite similar to L. vanandense mainly for the habit, leaves, in having few or no sterile branches and remotely arranged spikelets, while it differs from the latter by having longer spikelets, tuberculate bracts, and more densely hairy calyces.

Specimens examined (Paratypes): — GREECE. Eastern Aegean Islands: Samos, 29 June 1907, Post 1004 (G); Samos , Kastro , 3 km W of Karlovassion, alt. 5m, rocky place, 22 June 1980, Baden 462 (C); Samos, NW- Küste, Magalo Seitani-Bucht, Sandstrand, 15 April 1987, Kalheber 87–651 (Herb. Kalheber); Ostägäische Inseln Samos, Megalo Seitani Bucht, 0–15 m; Felswand an der NO-Seite der Bucht, 31 May 1999, Kalheber 99–691 (Herb. Kalheber); Samos, Agios Nicolaos, 31 August 1992, Brullo & Minissale s.n. (CAT) .

LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 75 76 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN

Figures

FIGURE 27. Limonium samium Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Samos, Potami, Brullo & Giusso s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 86. (Map 1) Geographical distribution of Limonium aegaeum (A); L. samium (B); L. heraionense (C); L. crateriforme (D); L. zacynthium (E); L. aphroditae (F); L. albomarginatum (G).